head
hehd
Head (noun) means the part of the body containing the brain, eyes, and mouth. Example: “She turned her head to look at him.”
noun
1
The part of the body containing the brain, eyes, and mouth.
"She turned her head to look at him."
"He hit his head on the low doorway."
"The child wore a woolly hat to keep her head warm."
2
A person in charge; a leader.
"She is the head of the marketing department."
"The head of the school welcomed the parents at the gate."
"As head of the family, he always decided where we spent holidays."
verb
1
To be in charge of, or to move in a particular direction.
"He heads the sales team."
"They headed north toward the border."
"We should head home before it gets dark and the temperature drops."
adj
1
Chief or foremost in rank.
"She was promoted to head chef."
"The head waiter showed us to a table by the window."
"Ask the head teacher about the new rules for school uniform."
How to use head
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe top part of the body, or, more broadly, the person or thing in charge, or to lead/move toward somewhere.
Common pairings
head of state
head start
head for the door
use your head
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- heads
- Past tense
- headed
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She turned her _____ to look at him.
Etymology
From Old English heafod, going back through Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "head" or "cup" — a distant relative of "cape," "chief," and "captain."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for head
See all rhymes for head →Frequently asked questions
What does “head” mean?
The word “head” means the part of the body containing the brain, eyes, and mouth. In plain terms, the top part of the body, or, more broadly, the person or thing in charge, or to lead/move toward somewhere.
How do you pronounce “head”?
“Head” is pronounced hehd (/hɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “head” in a sentence?
Here is “head” used in a sentence: “She turned her head to look at him.”
What part of speech is “head”?
Depending on how it is used, “head” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “head” come from?
The word “head” comes from Old English. From Old English heafod, going back through Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "head" or "cup" — a distant relative of "cape," "chief," and "captain.".
Is “head” a common word?
“Head” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “head” have?
“Head” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the part of the body containing the brain, eyes, and mouth.
What is the difference between the head and the skull?
The head is the entire top part of the body, including the face, brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The skull is only the bony framework inside the head that protects the brain and shapes the face. In short, the skull is one part of the head, not the whole thing.
What parts make up the head?
The head holds the brain and most of the body's sense organs. On the outside are the face, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth; inside sit the brain and the skull that protects it. Because it contains so many vital organs, the head is one of the body's most important and delicate regions.
Does 'head' have other meanings?
Yes. Beyond the body part, 'head' can mean a leader or person in charge ('head of the department'), the top or front of something ('the head of the queue'), or the mind itself ('do the sums in your head'). The body-part sense is the original from which these grew.
Why is the head important?
The head houses the brain, which controls thought, movement, and every other system in the body. It also holds four of the five main senses — sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Because so much vital function is concentrated there, injuries to the head are treated with particular seriousness.
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