hɔ:n n. & v. --n. 1 a a
hard permanent outgrowth,
often curved
and pointed, on
the head of
cattle, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and
other esp. hoofed mammals, found singly, in pairs, or
one in
front of
another. b the
structure of a horn, consisting of a
core of
bone encased in keratinized
skin. 2
each of
two deciduous branched appendages on the head of (esp. male)
deer. 3 a hornlike
projection on the head of other animals, e.g. a snail's
tentacle, the
crest of a
horned owl, etc. 4 the
substance of
which horns are composed. 5
anything resembling or compared to a horn in
shape. 6 Mus. a =
French horn. b a wind
instrument played by
lip vibration, orig.
made of horn,
now usu. of
brass. c a horn
player. 7 an instrument
sounding a
warning or other signal (car horn; foghorn). 8 a
receptacle or instrument made of horn, e.g. a drinking-vessel or powder-flask etc. 9 a horn-shaped projection. 10 the
extremity of the
moon or other
crescent. 11 a an arm or
branch of a
river, bay, etc. b (the Horn) Cape Horn. 12 a pyramidal peak formed by
glacial action. 13
coarse sl. an
erect penis. 14 the hornlike
emblem of a
cuckold. --v.tr. 1 (esp. as horned adj.)
provide with horns. 2 gore with the horns. øhorn in sl. 1 (usu. foll. by on)
intrude. 2
interfere. horn of
plenty a
cornucopia. horn-rimmed (esp. of spectacles) having rims made of horn or a substance resembling
it. on the horns of a
dilemma faced with a
decision involving
equally unfavourable alternatives. øøhornist n. (in
sense 6 of n.). hornless adj. hornlike adj. [OE f. Gmc, rel. to L cornu]