head

1 of 3

noun

ˈhed 

plural heads

1

: the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth

nodded his head in agreement

2

a

: the seat of the intellect : mind

two heads are better than one

b

: a person with respect to mental qualities

let wiser heads prevail

c

: natural aptitude or talent

a good head for figures

d

: mental or emotional control : poise

a level head

e

: headache

3

: the obverse (see obverse entry 2 sense 1) of a coin

—usually used in plural

call heads or tails

4

a

: person, individual

count heads

b

plural head : one of a number (as of domestic animals)

sold twenty head of cattle

5

a

: the end that is upper or higher or opposite the foot

the head of the table

head of a sail

b

: the source of a stream or river

the head of the Nile

c

: either end of something (such as a drum) whose two ends need not be distinguished

6

: director, leader: such as

a

: headmaster

b

: one in charge of a division or department in an office or institution

the head of the English department

met with the other department heads

7

a

: capitulum sense 2

b

: the foliaged part of a plant especially when consisting of a compact mass of leaves, flowers, or fruit

a head of lettuce

a single head of grain

8

a

: the leading element of a military column or a procession

b

: headway

Often, she had to fight for her head as the press of sail buried her bow.

—C. V. Reilly

9

a

: the uppermost extremity or projecting part of an object : top

the head of a bolt

b

: the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement

the head of an ax

c

: the rounded proximal end of a long bone (such as the humerus)

d

: the end of a muscle nearest the origin

e

: the oval part of a printed musical note

10

a

: a body of water kept in reserve at a height

also : the containing bank, dam, or wall

b

: a mass of water in motion (as in a rip current)

11

a

: the difference in elevation between two points in a body of fluid

b

: the resulting pressure of the fluid at the lower point expressible as this height

broadly : pressure of a fluid

an engine with a full head of steam

12

a

: the bow and adjacent parts of a ship

b

: a ship's toilet

broadly : toilet sense 1

13

: the approximate length of the head of a horse

won by a head

14

: the place of leadership, honor, or command

at the head of her class

15

a(1)

: a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize

(2)

: a separate part or topic

heads of a sermon

b

: a portion of a page or sheet that is above the first line of printing

16

: the foam or scum that rises on a fermenting or effervescing liquid (such as beer)

17

a

: the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break

b

: culminating point of action : crisis

events came to a head

18

a

: a part or attachment of a machine or machine tool containing a device (such as a cutter or drill)

turret head of a lathe

also : the part of an apparatus that performs the chief function or a particular function

a drill head

b

magnetic recording : an electromagnet used as a transducer for recording on, reading, or erasing a magnetic medium (such as tape or a disk)

19

grammar : an immediate constituent of a construction that can have the same grammatical function as the whole (such as man in "an old man," "a very old man," or "the man in the street")

20

a

: one who uses a drug

—often used in combination

pothead

b

: a devoted enthusiast : aficionado

—often used in combination

computerhead

21

usually vulgar : fellatio, cunnilingus

—usually used with give

head

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or intended for the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth : of, relating to, or intended for the head (see head entry 1 sense 1)

head injuries

2

: principal, chief

head cook

3

: located at the end that is upper or higher : situated at the head (see head entry 1 sense 5a)

head sails

4

: coming from in front

head sea

head

3 of 3

verb

headed; heading; heads

transitive verb

1

: behead

2

a

: to put the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement on : fit a head (see head entry 1 sense 9b) to

head an arrow

b

: to form the uppermost extremity or projecting part of : to form the head or top of

tower headed by a spire

3

: to act as leader or director of : to act as head (see head entry 1 sense 6) to

head a revolt

4

a

: to get in front of so as to hinder, stop, or turn back

head a herd of cattle

b

: to take a lead over (as in a race) : surpass

c

: to pass (a stream) by going round above the source

5

a

: to place something at the beginning or top of (something) in order to introduce or categorize : to put something at the head of (something, as a list)

Each page was headed with the writer's name.

b

: to stand as the first or leading member of

heads the list of heroes

6

: to set the course of

head a ship northward

7

: to hit and propel (something, such as a soccer ball) with the head (see head entry 1 sense 1)

headed the ball into the goal

intransitive verb

1

: to form a compact mass of leaves or fruit : to form a head (see head entry 1 sense 7b)

This type of cabbage heads early.

2

: to point or proceed in a certain direction

headed south

3

: to have a source : originate

The river heads in those mountains.

Phrases

by the head

: drawing the greater depth of water forward

off one's head

: unable to think in a clear or sensible way : emotionally disturbed or mentally unsound

was off his head on drugs

out of one's head

: delirious

Her parents were out of their heads with worry.

over one's head

1

: beyond one's comprehension or competence

… the most awful intellectual detail, all of it over my head.

—E. B. White

2

: so as to pass over one's superior standing or authority

went over my head to complain

Synonyms

Noun

• bean
• block [slang]
• dome
• mazard [chiefly dialect]
• mazzard
• nob
• noddle
• noggin
• noodle
• nut [slang]
• pate
• poll

Adjective

• chief
• commanding
• first
• foremost
• high
• lead
• leading
• preeminent
• premier
• presiding
• primary
• prime
• principal
• supereminent
• supreme
• top

Verb

• bear
• make

Examples of head in a Sentence

Noun

She patted the dog on the head.

He nodded his head in agreement.

The ceiling's low—watch your head!

Adjective

as head editor at the TV station for 17 years, he has seen many news anchors come and go

Verb

The group was headed by the church pastor.

He was accused of heading the revolt.

I hopped in the car and headed down the street.

After lunch, we headed back to the office.

She headed out early this morning.

The birds have already started heading south for the winter.

The forward headed the ball into the goal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head. —Mike Hutton, Post-Tribune, 19 July 2017

Delimitros said one of the truck’s side view mirrors struck her in the head, causing minor injuries. —David Hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, 19 July 2017

Adjective

The head surf coach, Marcel Oliveira, chooses the other coaches based on skill and personality. —Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2024

Williams was previously head coach for the Phoenix Suns, compiling a 194-115 record in four seasons in Arizona and leading the franchise to the 2020-21 NBA Finals, where the team lost in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks. —Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 20 June 2024

Verb

More adventurous guests can head out onto the surrounding lanes and visit nearby Box Hill (as used for the road cycling competitions of the London 2012 Olympic Games), or a local vineyard. —Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

Test results on five health care workers who became ill after caring for the patient came back negative for any sign of the virus, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who heads the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a media briefing. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English hed, from Old English hēafod; akin to Old High German houbit head, Latin caput

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing head

• a big/swelled head
• a light bulb goes off/on (in someone's head)
• all in one's head
• a price on someone's head
• are/stand head and shoulders above
• a roof over one's head
• at the head of
• bed head
• bite someone's head off
• clear head
• co-head
• come/pop into one's head
• cool/calm head
• cylinder head
• death's-head
• death's-head hawk moth
• did a head count
• drop one's eyes/head
• enter one's head
• enter someone's mind/head
• eyes pop out of one's head
• flower head
• from head to foot/toe
• full head of hair
• get it through one's thick head
• get it through someone's head
• get one's head round
• go over someone's head
• go to one's head
• hang one's head
• hang one's head in shame
• has a head for heights
• have a head for
• have eyes in the back of one's head
• have/get one's head (screwed) on right/straight
• have one's head examined
• head and shoulders
• head and shoulders above
• head boy
• head butt
• head-butter
• head case
• head cold
• head count
• head game
• head girl
• head honcho
• head hunt
• head hunter
• head-hunting
• head-in-the-sand
• head linesman
• head louse
• head/mind games
• head off
• head of state
• head of steam
• head of the household
• head-on
• head-on collision
• head over heels
• head restraint
• head rhyme
• head rush
• head-scratcher
• head-scratching
• head shop
• head shot
• head start
• head table
• head teacher
• head-to-head
• hit the nail on the head
• hold one's head (up) high
• hold/put a gun to someone's head
• hold up one's head
• in one's head
• keep a cool head
• keep a level head
• keep one's head
• keep one's head above water
• keep one's head down
• knock someone's head/block off
• knock some sense into someone's head
• knock (something) on the head
• like a chicken with its head cut off
• like a hole in the head
• lose one's head
• make head
• make someone's head spin
• mess with someone's mind/head
• not make head or/nor tail of
• not right in the head
• off the top of one's head
• one's head off
• per head
• Phillips-head screw
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• pointy-head
• propeller-head
• put ideas in/into someone's head
• put/stick/raise one's head above the parapet
• put that idea out of your head
• rear/raise its ugly head
• ring in someone's ears/head
• running around like a chicken with its head cut off
• running head
• scratch one's head
• shake one's head
• shout her head off
• soft in the head
• someone's head is spinning
• someone's head/mind is in a spin
• stand on one's head/hands
• stuck in one's head
• swelled head
• talking head
• talk your head off
• Turk's head
• turn one's head
• upside the head
• use one's head
• with one's head in the clouds
• yell your head off

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

Kids Definition

head

1 of 3 noun

ˈhed 

1

: the upper or front part of the body (as of a human being or an insect) that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth

2

a

: mind entry 1 sense 2, understanding

a good head for figures

b

: control of the mind or feelings

kept a level head in time of danger

3

: the side of a coin bearing a head or the major design

4

a

: person sense 1, individual

count heads

b

plural head : one of a number (as of livestock)

100 head of cattle

5

a

: the end that is upper or higher or opposite the foot

the head of the bed

b

: the uppermost part : top

c

: a skin or something like a thin piece of skin stretched across one or both ends of a drum

6

: headmaster

7

: a compact mass of plant parts (as leaves or flowers)

a head of cabbage

8

a

: the place where a stream begins

b

: the difference in elevation between two points in a body of fluid

c

: the resulting pressure at the lower point

also : pressure of a fluid

a head of steam

9

a

: the place of leadership or command

the person at the head of the group

b

: a person in this place : chief, leader

10

: the foam that rises on a foaming liquid

11

a

: the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break

b

: crisis sense 2

events came to a head

12

: a part of a machine, tool, or weapon that performs the main function

head of a lance

a machine with a grinding head

headship

ˈhed-ˌship

noun

head

2 of 3 adjective

1

: principal, chief

head cook

2

: placed at the head

sat at the head table at the banquet

3

: coming from in front

head sea

head

3 of 3 verb

1

: to form a head

this cabbage heads early

2

: to be or put oneself at the head of : lead

head a revolt

head the list of heroes

3

a

: to get in front of so as to hinder, stop, or turn back

head them off at the pass

b

: to take a lead over (as in a race)

4

: to go or point in a specified course

head for home

head the ship north

Medical Definition

head

noun

ˈhed 

1

: the division of the human body that contains the brain, the eyes, the ears, the nose, and the mouth

also : the corresponding anterior division of the body of various animals including all vertebrates, most arthropods, and many mollusks and worms

2

: headache

3

: a projection or extremity especially of an anatomical part: as

a

: the rounded proximal end of a long bone (as the humerus)

b

: the end of a muscle nearest the origin

c

: the anterior end of an invertebrate : scolex

4

: the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break

5

: the end of a lipid molecule that consists of a polar group and is regarded as being opposite to the tail

head adjective

Legal Definition

head

noun

: any of a number of individuals