1the upper part of the human body, or the front or upper part of the body of an animal, typically separated from the rest of the body by a neck, and containing the brain, mouth, and sense organs.
the head regarded as the location of intellect, imagination, and memory:whatever comes into my head
(head for) an aptitude for or tolerance of:she had a good head for businessa head for heights
informal a headache, especially one resulting from intoxication.
the height or length of a head as a measure:he was beaten by a head
(heads) the side of a coin bearing the image of a head (used when tossing a coin to determine a winner):heads or tails?
the antlers of a deer:stags yearly cast their heads in March
2a thing resembling a head either in form or in relation to a whole, in particular:
the cutting, striking, or operational end of a tool, weapon, or mechanism.
the flattened or knobbed end of a nail, pin, screw, or match.
the ornamented top of a pillar or column.
a compact mass of leaves or flowers at the top of a stem, especially a capitulum:huge heads of fluffy cream flowers
the edible leafy part at the top of the stem of such green vegetables as cabbage and lettuce.
3the front, forward, or upper part or end of something, in particular:
the upper end of a table or bed:he sat down at the head of the cot
the upper horizontal part of a window frame or door frame.
the flat end of a cask or drum.
the front of a queue or procession:at the head of the queue
5a person considered as a numerical unit:they paid fifty pounds a head
[treated as plural] a number of cattle or game as specified:seventy head of dairy cattle
6a component in an audio, video, or information system by which information is transferred from an electrical signal to the recording medium, or vice versa.
the part of a record player that holds the playing cartridge and stylus.
7a body of water kept at a particular height in order to provide a supply at sufficient pressure:an 8 m head of water in the shafts
the pressure exerted by a head of water or by a confined body of steam:a good head of steam on the gauge
8 Nautical a toilet on a ship or boat:they were cleaning out the heads
9 Grammar the word that governs all the other words in a phrase in which it is used, having the same grammatical function as the whole phrase.
10 [mass noun] Geology a superficial deposit of rock fragments, formed at the edge of an ice sheet by repeated freezing and thawing and then moved downhill.
ზმნა
Universal
1be in the leading position on:the St George’s Day procession was headed by the mayor
be in charge of:an organizational unit headed by a line managershe headed up the Jubilee Year programme
2give a title or caption to:an article headed ‘The Protection of Human Life’
(as adjective headed) having a printed heading, typically the name and address of a person or organization:headed notepaper
3 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (also be headed) move in a specified direction:he was heading for the exitwe were headed in the wrong direction
(head for) appear to be moving inevitably towards (something, especially something undesirable):the economy is heading for recession
[with object and adverbial of direction] direct or steer in a specified direction:she headed the car towards them
4 Soccer shoot or pass (the ball) with the head:a corner kick that Moody headed into the net
5lop off the upper part or branches of (a plant or tree):the willow is headed every three or four years
6 [no object] (of a lettuce or cabbage) form a head.
bang (or knock) people's heads together
reprimand people severely, especially in an attempt to stop them arguing.
be banging (or knocking) one's head against a brick wall
be doggedly attempting the impossible and suffering in the process:the trick is to go for the easy stuff first, there’s nothing to be gained from knocking your head against a brick wall
be hanging over someone's head
(of something unpleasant) threaten to affect someone at any moment:uncertainty about the group’s future was hanging over their heads
be someone’s sole responsibility:your conduct is on your own head
bite (or snap) someone's head off
reply sharply and brusquely to someone:I made some comment and he bit my head off
by the head
Nautical (of a boat or ship) deeper in the water forward than astern:the Boy Andrew went down by the head
come to a head
reach a crisis:the violence came to a head with the deaths of six youths
do someone's head in
British informal make someone feel annoyed, confused, or frustrated:my relationship with my publicist was doing my head in
from head to toe (or foot)
all over one’s body:I was shaking from head to toe
get one's head down
British informal
1sleep:if he got his head down for a couple of hours he would be nice and fresh for the evening
2concentrate on the task in hand:at home I can get my head down and get on with the job in hand
get one's head round (or around)
[usually with negative]British informal understand or come to terms with:I just can’t get my head around this idea
get something into one's (or someone's) head
come (or cause someone) to realize or understand something:when will you get it into your head that it’s the project that counts not me?
give someone their head
allow someone complete freedom of action.
give someone head
vulgar slang perform oral sex on someone.
go to someone's head
(of alcohol) make someone dizzy or slightly drunk.
(of success) make someone conceited.
hang one's head (in shame)
be deeply ashamed:a record that should make them hang their heads in shame
head first
with the head in front of the rest of the body:she dived head first into the watera head-first slide
without sufficient forethought.
head of hair
the hair on a person’s head, regarded in terms of its appearance or quantity:he had a fine head of hair
head and shoulders above
informal far superior to:you were just head and shoulders above all the other girls
—— one's head off
talk, laugh, etc. unrestrainedly:he was drunk as a newt and singing his head off
head over heels
1turning over completely in forward motion, as in a somersault:he fell backwards, tumbling head over heels down the steps
2 (also head over heels in love) madly in love:I immediately fell head over heels for Don
a head start
an advantage granted or gained at the beginning of something:our fine traditions give us a head start on the competition
heads I win, tails you lose
I win whatever happens.
heads will roll
people will be dismissed or forced to resign:heads will have to roll at board level
hold (or put) a gun to someone's head
force someone to do something by using threats.
hold up one's head (or hold one's head high)
be confident or unashamed:under the circumstances I would find it impossible to hold my head up in the town
in one's head
by mental process without use of physical aids:the piece he’d already written in his head
keep one's head
remain calm:he takes chances but keeps his head
keep one's head above water
avoid succumbing to difficulties, typically debt.
keep one's head down
remain inconspicuous in difficult or dangerous times:he was in deep trouble and all his instincts told him to keep his head down
lose one's head
lose self-control; panic.
make head or tail of
[usually with negative] understand at all:we couldn’t make head nor tail of the answer
off (or out of) one's head
British informal
crazy:my old man’s going off his head, you know
extremely intoxicated by drink or drugs.
off the top of one's head
without careful thought or investigation:I can’t tell you off the top of my head
over someone's head
1beyond someone’s ability to understand:the discussion was over my head
2without someone’s knowledge or involvement, especially when they have a right to it:the deal was struck over the heads of the regions concerned
with disregard for someone else’s (stronger) claim:his promotion over the heads of more senior colleagues
put their (or our or your) heads together
consult and work together:they forced the major banks to put their heads together to sort it out
put something into someone's head
suggest something to someone:who’s been putting ideas into your head?
standing on one's head
with no difficulty at all:I could design this garden standing on my head
stand (or turn) something on its head
completely reverse the principles or interpretation of an idea or argument:a book that turns the accepted view of modernism on its headpunk had turned pop music and its attendant culture in its head
take it into one's head to do something
impetuously decide to do something:I wonder why he suddenly took it into his head to confess to you
turn someone's head
make someone conceited:being made dean had turned his head
turn heads
attract a great deal of attention or interest:she recently turned heads with a nude scene
head someone/thing off
intercept and turn aside:he ran up the road to head off approaching cars
forestall:they headed off a row by ordering further study of both plans
