behead
v. C1 Advanced US //biˈhɛd// UK //bɪhˈɛd// be·head
v. to cut off someone's head, usually as a punishment or in a fight. It is a very serious and violent word.
v. to decapitate a person or animal, typically as a form of capital punishment or in the context of combat. Transitive — requires a direct object.
The soldiers were ordered to behead the prisoners.
The executioner's blade was designed to behead the condemned with a single, swift stroke, minimizing the duration of the death penalty.
From Middle English beheden, bihefden, biheveden, from Old English behēafdian (“to behead”), equivalent to be- (“off, away”) + head.
- Verbbehead
- Nounarrowhead
- Nounbulkhead
- Nounfigurehead
- Nounforehead
- Nounhead
- Nounheadache
- Nounheadband
- Nounheader
- Nounheadgear
- Nounheading
- Nounheadlight
- Nounheadline
- Nounheadliner
- Nounheadmaster
- Nounheadphone
- Nounheadphones
- Nounheadquarters
- Nounheads
- Nounheadset
- Nounheadstone
- Nounheadway
- Nounredhead
- Nounspearhead
- Nounwarhead
- Nounwhitehead
- Adjectiveheadless
- Adjectiveheadlong
- Adjectiveheadstrong
- Adverbahead
- Adverboverhead