First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1head
noun \ˈhed\
Definition of HEAD
1
: the upper or anterior division of the animal body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth
2
3
: the obverse of a coin —usually used in plural
4
a : person, individual <count heads> b plural head : one of a number (as of domestic animals)
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 c : either end of something (as a drum) whose two ends need not be distinguished
6
: director, leader: as a : headmaster b : one in charge of a division or department in an office or institution
7
a : capitulum 2 b : the foliaged part of a plant especially when consisting of a compact mass of leaves or close fructification <a head of lettuce>
8
a : the leading element of a military column or a procession b : headway
9
a : the uppermost extremity or projecting part of an object : top b : the striking part of a weapon, tool, or implement c : the rounded proximal end of a long bone (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
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
12
a : the bow and adjacent parts of a ship b : a ship's toilet; broadly : toilet 3
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 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 (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 (as a cutter or drill); also : the part of an apparatus that performs the chief function or a particular function b : an electromagnet used as a transducer in magnetic recording for recording on, reading, or erasing a magnetic medium (as tape or a disk)
19
: an immediate constituent of a construction that can have the same grammatical function as the whole (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
often vulgar : fellatio, cunnilingus —usually used with give
— by the head
: drawing the greater depth of water forward
— off one's head
: crazy, distracted
— out of one's head
— 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>
See head defined for English-language learners
See head defined for kids
Origin of HEAD
Middle English hed, from Old English hēafod; akin to Old High German houbit head, Latin caput
Related to HEAD
Other Anatomy Terms
2head
adjective
Definition of HEAD
1
: of, relating to, or intended for the head
3
: situated at the head
4
: coming from in front <head sea>
First Known Use of HEAD
before 12th century
Related to HEAD
Other Anatomy Terms
3head
verb
: to be the leader of (something)
: to be first on (a list)
: to go in a specified direction or toward a specified place
Full Definition of HEAD
transitive verb
1
: behead
2
a : to put a head on : fit a head to <head an arrow> b : to form the head or top of <tower headed by a spire>
3
: to act as leader or head to <head a revolt>
4
a : to get in front of so as to hinder, stop, or turn back b : to take a lead over (as a racehorse) : surpass c : to pass (a stream) by going round above the source
5
a : to put something at the head of (as a list) 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 drive (as a soccer ball) with the head
intransitive verb
1
: to form a head <this cabbage heads early>
2
: to point or proceed in a certain direction <headed south>
3
: to have a source : originate
See head defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of HEAD
14th century
HEAD Defined for Kids
1head
noun \ˈhed\
Definition of HEAD for Kids
1
: the part of the body containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth
2
: 1mind 1 <Mom has a good head for figures.>
3
: control of the mind or feelings <He kept his head during the emergency.>
4
: the side of a coin or medal usually thought of as the front
6
: each person among a number <Count heads to make sure everyone is here.>
7
plural head : a unit of number <They own 100 head of cattle.>
8
: something like a head in position or use <the head of a bed>
9
: the place where a stream begins
10
: a tight mass of plant parts (as leaves or flowers) <a head of cabbage>
11
: a part of a machine, tool, or weapon that performs the main work <head of a spear> <shower head>
12
: a place of leadership or honor <He is at the head of his class.>
2head
adjective
Definition of HEAD for Kids
1
: 2chief 1 <He's the head coach.>
2
: located at the front <We sat at the head table.>
3
: coming from in front <We sailed into a head wind.>
3head
verb
head·edhead·ing
Definition of HEAD for Kids
1
: to be the leader of <She headed the investigation.>
2
: to go or cause to go in a certain direction <Let's head for home.>
3
: to be first or get in front of <He heads the list of candidates.>
4
: to provide with or form a head <This cabbage heads early.>
Medical Dictionary
head
noun \ˈhed\
Medical Definition of HEAD
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
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