EnglishMain Dictionary
head
Universal Words
noun, verb
noun
part of body
1 [C] the part of the body on top of the neck containing the eyes, nose, mouth and brain:
She 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).
seealsoDEATH'SHEAD
mind
2 [C] the mind or brain:
I sometimes wonder what goes on in that head of yours. * I wish you'd use your head (= think carefully before doing or saying sth). * 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.
seealsoHOTHEAD
measurement
3 (a head) [sing.] the size of a person's or animal's head, used as a measurement of distance or height:
She'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 [C,usually sing.] (informal) a continuous pain in your head
SYNHEADACHE:
I woke up with a really bad head this morning.
side of coin
5 (heads) [U] 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 sth
compareTAILSn.(7)
end of object
6 [C,usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the end of a long narrow object that is larger or wider than the rest of it:
the head of a nail
seealsoBEDHEAD
top
7 [sing.] ~ of sth the top or highest part of sth:
at the head of the page / stairs * They finished the season at the head of their league.
of river
8 [sing.] the ~ of the river the place where a river begins
SYNSOURCE
of table
9 [sing.] the ~ of the table the most important seat at a table:
The President sat at the head of the table.
of line of people
10 [sing.] the ~ of sth the position at the front of a line of people:
The prince rode at the head of his regiment.
of plant
11 [C] ~ (of sth) the mass of leaves or flowers at the end of a stem:
Remove the dead heads to encourage new growth.
of group / organization
12 [C,U] the person in charge of a group of people or an organization:
the heads of government / state * She resigned as head of department. * the crowned heads (= the kings and queens) of Europe * the head gardener / waiter * (BrE) the head boy / girl (= a student who is chosen to represent the school)
of school / college
13 [C] (often Head) (BrE) the person in charge of a school or college
SYNHEADMASTER, HEADMISTRESS, HEADTEACHER:
I've been called in to see the Head. * the deputy head
on beer
14 [sing.] the mass of small bubbles on the top of a glass of beer
of spot
15 [C] the part of a spot on your skin that contains a thick yellowish liquid (= PUS)
seealsoBLACKHEAD
in tape / video recorder
16 [C] the part of a TAPERECORDER or VIDEORECORDER that touches the tape and changes the electrical signals into sounds and/or pictures
number of animals
17 ~ of sth [pl.] 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 ~ of steam [sing.] the pressure produced by steam in an enclosed space:
The old engine still manages to build up a good head of steam.
sex
19 [U] (!!!, slang) ORAL sex (= using the mouth to stimulate sb's sex organs):
to give 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 sth that will never be successful:
Trying to reason with them was like banging my head against a brick wall.
be / stand head and shoulders above sb/sth to be much better than other people or things:
His performance stood head and shoulders above the rest.
bite / snap sb's head off (informal) to shout at sb in an angry way, especially without reason
bring sth to a head
