Definition of head noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

head

noun

hed

hed

part of body

1 [countable] the part of the body on top of the neck containing the eyes, nose, mouth and brainShe nodded her head in agreement.He shook his head in disbelief.The boys hung their heads in shame.The driver suffered head injuries.She always has her head in a book (= is always reading).He still has a good head of hair (= a lot of hair). see also death's head

mind

2 [countable] the mind or brainI sometimes wonder what goes on in that head of yours.I wish you'd use your head (= think carefully before doing or saying something).The thought never entered my head.I can't work it out in my head—I need a calculator.I can't get that tune out of my head.When will you get it into your head (= understand) that I don't want to discuss this any more!For some reason, she's got it into her head (= believes) that the others don't like her.Who's been putting such weird ideas into your head (= making you believe that)?Try to put the exams out of your head (= stop thinking about them) for tonight. see also hothead

measurement

3 a head [singular] the size of a person's or animal's head, used as a measurement of distance or heightShe's a good head taller than her sister.The favourite won by a short head (= a distance slightly less than the length of a horse's head).

pain

4 [countable, usually singular] (informal) a continuous pain in your head

Synonym

headacheI woke up with a really bad head this morning.

of group/organization

5 [countable, uncountable] the person in charge of a group of people or an organizationthe heads of government/stateShe resigned as head of department.the crowned heads (= the kings and queens) of Europethe head gardener/waiter, etc. (British English) the head boy/girl (= a student who is chosen to represent the school)

of school/college

6 [countable] (often Head) (British English) the person in charge of a school or college

Synonym

headmaster, headmistress

Synonym

head teacherI've been called in to see the Head.the deputy head

side of coin

7 heads [uncountable] the side of a coin that has a picture of the head of a person on it, used as one choice when a coin is tossed to decide something compare tails noun (7)

end of object

8 [countable, usually singular] head (of something) the end of a long narrow object that is larger or wider than the rest of itthe head of a nail

top

9 [singular] head of something the top or highest part of somethingat the head of the pageThey finished the season at the head of their league.

of river

10 [singular] the head of the river the place where a river begins

Synonym

source

of table

11 [singular] the head of the table the most important seat at a tableThe President sat at the head of the table.

of line of people

12 [singular] the head of something the position at the front of a line of peopleThe prince rode at the head of his regiment.

of plant

13 [countable] head (of something) the mass of leaves or flowers at the end of a stemRemove the dead heads to encourage new growth.

on beer

14 [singular] the mass of small bubbles on the top of a glass of beer

of spot

15 [countable] the part of a spot on your skin that contains a thick yellowish liquid (= pus ) see also blackhead

in tape/video recorder

16 [countable] the part of a tape recorder or video recorder that touches the tape and changes the electrical signals into sounds and/or pictures

number of animals

17 head of something [plural] used to say how many animals of a particular type are on a farm, in a herd, etc.200 head of sheep

of steam

18 a head of steam [singular] the pressure produced by steam in a confined spaceThe old engine still manages to build up a good head of steam.

sex

19 [uncountable] (taboo, slang) oral sex (= using the mouth to give somebody sexual pleasure)to give head

linguistics

20 [countable] the central part of a phrase, which has the same grammatical function as the whole phrase. In the phrase ‘the tall man in a suit’, man is the head.

Idioms

a/per head

for each person

The meal worked out at $20 a head.

bang/knock your/their heads together

(informal) to force people to stop arguing and behave in a sensible way

be banging, etc. your head against a brick wall

(informal) to keep trying to do something that will never be successfulTrying to reason with them was like banging my head against a brick wall.

be/stand head and shoulders above somebody/something

to be much better than other people or things

His performance stood head and shoulders above the rest.

bite/snap somebody's head off

(informal) to shout at somebody in an angry way, especially without reason

bring something to a head

come to a head

if you bring a situation to a head or if a situation comes to a head, you are forced to deal with it quickly because it suddenly becomes very bad

bury/hide your head in the sand

to refuse to admit that a problem exists or refuse to deal with it

can't make head nor tail of something

to be unable to understand something

I couldn't make head nor tail of what he was saying.

do somebody's head in

(British English, informal) to make you feel confused, upset and/or annoyedShut up! You're doing my head in.

do something standing on your head

(informal) to be able to do something very easily and without having to think too much

from head to foot/toe

covering your whole body

We were covered from head to foot in mud.She was dressed from head to toe in red.

get your head down

(informal)1 (British English) to sleepI managed to get my head down for an hour.2 = keep/get your head down

get your head round something

(British English, informal) to be able to understand or accept somethingShe's dead. I can't get my head round it yet.

give somebody their head

to allow somebody to do what they want without trying to stop them

go head to head (with somebody)

to deal with somebody in a very direct and determined way

The company will be going head to head with the giant of the pharmaceuticals market.

go to somebody's head

1 (of alcohol) to make you feel drunkThat glass of wine has gone straight to my head.2 (of success, praise, etc.) to make you feel too proud of yourself in a way that other people find annoying

have a good head on your shoulders

to be a sensible person

have a head for something

1 to be good at somethingto have a head for figures/business2 if somebody does not have a head for heights, they feel nervous and think they are going to fall when they look down from a high place

have your head in the clouds

1 to be thinking about something that is not connected with what you are doing2 to have ideas, plans, etc. that are not realistic

have your head screwed on (the right way)

(informal) to be a sensible person

head first

1 moving forwards or downwards with your head in front of the rest of your bodyHe fell head first down the stairs.2 without thinking carefully about something before actingShe got divorced and rushed head first into another marriage.

Synonym

headlong

head over heels in love

loving somebody very much

He's fallen head over heels in love with his boss.

heads or tails?

used to ask somebody which side of a coin they think will be facing upwards when it is tossed in order to decide something by chance

heads will roll (for something)

(informal, usually humorous) used to say that some people will be punished because of something that has happened

hold your head high

hold up your head

to be proud of or not feel ashamed about something that you have done

She managed to hold her head high and ignore what people were saying.

in over your head

involved in something that is too difficult for you to deal with

After a week in the new job, I soon realized that I was in over my head.

keep/get your head down

to avoid attracting attention to yourself

If I were you, I'd keep your head down for a couple of weeks.

keep your head

keep a clear/cool head

to remain calm in a difficult situation

keep your head above water

to deal with a difficult situation, especially one in which you have financial problems, and just manage to survive

I'm not sure how much longer we'll be able to keep our heads above water.

laugh, scream, etc. your head off

(informal) to laugh, etc. a lot and very loudly

lose your head

to become unable to act in a calm or sensible way

Idioms

on your (own) head be it

used to tell somebody that they will have to accept any unpleasant results of something that they decide to do

Tell him the truth if you want to, but on your own head be it!

out of/off your head

(British English, informal)1 crazy2 not knowing what you are saying or doing because of the effects of alcohol or drugs

over somebody's head

1 too difficult or complicated for somebody to understandA lot of the jokes went (= were) right over my head.2 to a higher position of authority than somebodyI couldn't help feeling jealous when she was promoted over my head.I'm not happy that you went over my head to ask for this time off.

put our/your/their heads together

to think about or discuss something as a group

stand/turn something on its head

to make people think about something in a completely different way

take it into your head to do something

to suddenly decide to do something, especially something that other people think is stupid

take it into your head that…

to suddenly start thinking something, especially something that other people think is stupid

turn somebody's head

(of success, praise, etc.) to make a person feel too proud in a way that other people find annoying

two heads are better than one

(saying) used to say that two people can achieve more than one person working alone

more at like a bear with a sore head at bear noun, put/lay your head/neck on the block at block noun, not bother yourself/your head with/about something at bother verb, drum something into somebody/into somebody's head at drum verb, have eyes in the back of your head at eye noun, hold/put a gun to somebody's head at gun noun, not harm/touch a hair of somebody's head at hair, let your heart rule your head at heart, hit the nail on the head at hit verb, put ideas into somebody's head at idea, I'll knock your block/head off! at knock verb, laugh your head off at laugh verb, need (to have) your head examined at need verb, (have) an old head on young shoulders at old, a price on somebody's head at price noun, something rears its (ugly) head at rear verb, ring in your ears/head at ring verb, have a roof over your head at roof noun, scratch your head at scratch verb, somebody's thick head at thick adjective, off the top of your head at top noun

Usage note: Physical appearanceA person may be described as having:Eyes(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyesdeep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyessmall/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyespiercing/penetrating/steely eyesbloodshot/watery/puffy eyesbushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrowslong/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashesFacea flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nosea straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nosefull/thick/thin/pouty lipsdry/chapped/cracked lipsflushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheekssoft/chubby/sunken cheekswhite/perfect/crooked/protruding teetha large/high/broad/wide/sloping foreheada strong/weak/pointed/double china long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee bearda long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/(especially US) mustacheHair and skinpale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skindry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skina dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexiondeep/fine/little/facial wrinklesblonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(British English) ginger/grey hairstraight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hairthick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hairdyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hairlong/short/shoulder-length/cropped haira bald/balding/shaved heada receding hairlinea bald patch/spota side/centre/(US) center (British English) parting/(North American English) partBodya long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neckbroad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shouldersa bare/broad/muscular/small/large chesta flat/swollen/bulging stomacha small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waistbig/wide/narrow/slim hipsa straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy backthin/slender/muscular armsbig/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved handslong/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingerslong/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legsmuscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighsbig/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feeta good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figurebe of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build