head
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.the part of the body that contains the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
n.the anatomical region of an animal or human containing the brain and major sensory organs.
Simple“He wore a warm hat to protect his head from the cold wind.”
In context“The patient reported a dull ache at the back of the head, radiating toward the neck muscles.”
Synonymsskullcranium - 02 A2 Elementary
n.the person in charge of a group, school, or organization.
n.the person occupying the highest position of authority within a hierarchy.
Simple“She was appointed as the new head of the marketing department.”
In context“As the head of the commission, he was responsible for delivering the final report to the prime minister.”
Antonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
n.the top or front part of something, like a table, a bed, or a page.
n.the uppermost or foremost extremity of an object.
Simple“Write your name clearly at the head of the exam paper.”
In context“The host sat at the head of the table, presiding over the evening's festivities with quiet confidence.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the white foam on top of a glass of beer.
n.the layer of froth or foam that forms on the surface of a fermented beverage.
Simple“The waiter poured the beer carefully to ensure it had a perfect head.”
In context“A thick, creamy head is often considered a sign of a well-poured draught ale.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a way to count animals or people in a group.
n.a unit of counting, typically applied to livestock or used in the phrase 'per head' for individuals.
Simple“The farmer has over fifty head of cattle on his land.”
In context“The cost of the dinner was calculated at forty dollars per head, including wine and service.”
Synonyms - 06 C1 Advanced
n.the bathroom or toilet on a boat or ship.
n.the latrine or restroom facilities aboard a maritime vessel.
Simple“The sailor went below deck to use the head before his shift started.”
In context“The captain ordered the crew to clean the head as part of the weekly inspection routine.”
Synonymslatrinetoilet - 07 A2 Elementary
v.to travel or move in a certain direction.
v.to proceed or move in a specified direction. Intransitive, often followed by 'for' or 'towards'.
Simple“We should head home before it starts to rain.”
In context“After the conference concluded, the delegates began to head toward the station to catch their respective trains.”
- 08 B1 Intermediate
v.to be the leader of something or to be at the front of a line.
v.to serve as the leader or person in charge of an organization or movement.
Simple“She was chosen to head the new research project.”
In context“The CEO will head the delegation during the international trade negotiations in Brussels next month.”
- 09 B1 Intermediate
v.to hit a ball with your head, especially in football.
v.to strike or propel a ball using the head. Transitive in a sporting context.
Simple“He managed to head the ball into the net in the final minute.”
In context“The defender leaped high to head the cross away from the goal, preventing a certain score.”
- 10 B1 Intermediate
adj.the most important or highest in rank.
adj.principal or most important in rank or status. Usually placed before the noun.
Simple“The head chef is responsible for everything that happens in the kitchen.”
In context“The head office issued a statement clarifying the company's position on the recent environmental legislation.”
Usage head coach · head injury · head start
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *káput- Proto-Germanic *haubudą Old English hēafod Middle English heed English head From Middle English hed heed, from Old English hēafd-, hēafod (“head, top, chief”), from Proto-West Germanic haubud, from Proto-Germanic haubudą (“head”), from Proto-Indo-European *káput. The modern word comes from Old English oblique stem hēafd-; the expected Modern English outcome for hēafod would be *heaved (similar to the Middle English word). Doublet of cape, capo, caput, chef, chief, and Howth. Cognate with Old English hafela (“head”), Scots heid, hede, hevid, heved (“head”), North Frisian hood (“head”), Dutch hoofd (“head”), German Haupt (“head”), Danish hoved (“head”), Faroese høvd, høvur (“head”), Icelandic höfuð (“head”), Norn heved (“head”), Norwegian hode (“head”), hoved- (“head, chief, main, principal”), Swedish huvud (“head”), Latin caput (“head”), Hindi कपाल (kapāl, “skull”), Sanskrit कपाल (kapāla, “skull”).
From Middle English heed, from Old English hēafod- (“main”), from Proto-West Germanic haubida-, derived from the noun haubid (“head”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian hööft-, West Frisian haad-, Dutch hoofd-, German Low German höövd-, German haupt-.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.