hed n.,
adj., & v. --n. 1
the upper
part of the
human body, or the
foremost or upper part of an animal's body, containing the
brain,
mouth,
and sense-organs. 2 a the head regarded as the
seat of
intellect or
repository of comprehended
information. b
intelligence;
imagination (use
your head). c
mental aptitude or
tolerance (usu. foll. by
for: a
good head for
business; no head for heights). 3 colloq. a
headache,
esp. resulting
from a blow or from intoxication. 4 a
thing like a head in
form or
position, esp.: a the
operative part of a
tool. b the flattened top of a
nail. c the ornamented top of a
pillar. d a mass of
leaves or flowers at the top of a stem. e the flat
end of a drum. f the
foam on top of a
glass of
beer etc. g the upper
horizontal part of a
window frame,
door frame, etc. 5
life when regarded as
vulnerable (it
cost him his head). 6 a a
person in
charge; a
director or
leader (esp. the
principal teacher at a school or college). b a position of leadership or
command. 7 the
front or
forward part of
something, e.g. a
queue. 8 the upper end of something, e.g. a
table or
bed. 9 the top or highest part of something, e.g. a page, stairs, etc. 10 a person or
individual regarded as a
numerical unit (ø10
per head). 11 (pl. same) a an individual
animal as a unit. b (as pl.) a
number of
cattle or game as specified (20 head). 12 a the
side of a
coin bearing the
image of a head. b (usu. in pl.)
this side as a
choice when
tossing a coin. 13 a the
source of a
river or
stream etc. b the end of a lake at
which a river enters
it. 14 the
height or
length of a head as a
measure. 15 the
component of a
machine that is in
contact with or
very close to
what is
being processed or worked
on, esp.: a the component on a
tape recorder that touches the
moving tape in
play and converts the signals. b the part of a record-player that holds the playing
cartridge and
stylus. c =
PRINTHEAD. 16 a a confined body of
water or
steam in an
engine etc. b the
pressure exerted by this. 17 a
promontory (esp. in place-names) (Beachy Head). 18 Naut. a the bows of a
ship. b (often in pl.) a ship's
latrine. 19 a main
topic or
category for
consideration or
discussion. 20
Journalism =
HEADLINE n. 21 a culmination,
climax, or
crisis. 22 the
fully developed top of a boil etc. 23 sl. a
habitual taker of drugs; a
drug addict. --attrib.adj.
chief or principal (head
gardener; head office). --v. 1 tr. be at the head or front
of. 2 tr. be in charge of (headed a
small team). 3 tr. a
provide with a head or
heading. b (of an
inscription,
title, etc.) be at the top of,
serve as a heading for. 4 a intr.
face or
move in a specified
direction or
towards a specified
result (often foll. by for: is heading for trouble). b tr.
direct in a specified direction. 5 tr.
Football strike (the ball) with the head. 6 a tr. (often foll. by down)
cut the head
off (a
plant etc.). b intr. (of a plant etc.) form a head. øabove (or over) one's head
beyond one's
ability to
understand.
come to a head
reach a crisis.
enter (or come into) one's head colloq.
occur to
one. from head to
toe (or foot)
all over a person's body.
get one's head down sl. 1 go to bed. 2
concentrate on the
task in
hand.
give a person his or
her head
allow a person to
act freely. go
out of one's head go
mad. go to one's head 1 (of liquor)
make one
dizzy or slightly
drunk. 2 (of success) make one
conceited. head and shoulders colloq. by a
considerable amount. head
back 1 get
ahead of so as to
intercept and
turn back. 2
return home etc. head-banger sl. 1 a
young person shaking violently to the
rhythm of
pop music. 2 a
crazy or
eccentric person. head-butt n. a
forceful thrust with the top of the head
into the
chin or body of
another person. --v.tr.
attack (another person) with a head-butt. head-dress an
ornamental covering or
band for the head. head
first 1 with the head foremost. 2 precipitately. head in the
sand refusal to
acknowledge an
obvious danger or
difficulty. head off 1 get ahead of so as to intercept and turn
aside. 2
forestall. a head of
hair the hair on a person's head, esp. as a
distinctive feature. head-on 1 with the front foremost (a head-on crash). 2 in direct confrontation. head over heels 1
turning over completely in forward
motion as in a
somersault etc. 2
topsy-turvy. 3 utterly, completely (head over heels in love). head-shrinker sl. a psychiatrist. head
start an
advantage granted or gained at an
early stage. heads will
roll colloq.
people will be disgraced or dismissed. head-up (of
instrument readings in an
aircraft,
vehicle, etc.)
shown so as to be
visible without lowering the eyes. head-voice the
high register of the
voice in
speaking or singing. head wind a wind blowing from
directly in front. hold up one's head be
confident or
unashamed. in one's head 1 in one's thoughts or imagination. 2 by mental process without
use of
physical aids.
keep one's head
remain calm. keep one's head
above water colloq. 1 keep out of
debt. 2
avoid succumbing to difficulties. keep one's head down colloq. remain
inconspicuous in
difficult or
dangerous times.
lose one's head lose
self-control; panic. make head or tail of (usu. with neg. or interrog.) understand at all. off one's head sl. crazy. off the top of one's head colloq.
impromptu; without
careful thought or
investigation. on one's (or one's own) head as one's sole
responsibility. out of one's head 1 sl. crazy. 2 from one's imagination or
memory. over one's head 1 beyond one's ability to understand. 2 without one's
knowledge or
involvement, esp. when one
has a
right to this. 3 with
disregard for one's
own (stronger)
claim (was promoted over
their heads). put heads
together consult together. put into a person's head
suggest to a person.
take (or get) it into one's head (foll. by that +
clause or to + infin.) form a
definite idea or
plan. turn a person's head make a person conceited. with one's head in the clouds see
CLOUD. øøheaded adj. (also in comb.). headless adj. headward adj. & adv. [OE heafod f. Gmc]