# horn

/ˈhɔɹn/ (US) · /hˈɔːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/horn
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. animal growth

noun · CEFR A2

a hard, pointed part that grows on the head of animals like cows, goats, or deer.

For teachers: a permanent, typically paired, bony projection on the head of various mammals, consisting of a keratin sheath over a core of bone.

- The bull lowered its horns and began to charge across the field.
- The rhinoceros is frequently targeted by poachers who seek to sell its horn on the black market for its supposed medicinal properties.

### 2. musical instrument

noun · CEFR B1

a musical instrument made of metal that you play by blowing into it.

For teachers: any of various brass wind instruments, specifically the French horn or, more generally, any brass instrument in a jazz or orchestral context.

- She plays the horn in the school orchestra every Tuesday.
- The jazz ensemble featured a powerful horn section that provided a sharp contrast to the melodic piano solo.

### 3. car signal

noun · CEFR A2

the device on a vehicle that makes a loud noise to warn other people.

For teachers: an acoustic signaling device on a motor vehicle used to warn others of the vehicle's approach or presence.

- The driver honked his horn because the car in front wasn't moving.
- In many crowded cities, the constant blaring of car horns contributes significantly to the overall level of noise pollution.

### 4. the telephone

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for a telephone.

For teachers: a slang term for a telephone, often used in the phrase 'on the horn'.

- I was on the horn with my boss for over an hour this morning.
- He spent the entire afternoon on the horn trying to negotiate a better deal with the suppliers before the contract expired.

### 5. sexual arousal

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a very informal and rude way to talk about a man being sexually excited.

For teachers: a vulgar slang term referring to a penile erection.

- He made a crude joke about having a horn.
- The film was criticized for its reliance on low-brow humor and constant references to the protagonist's horn.

### 6. land formation

noun · CEFR B2

a piece of land that sticks out into the sea.

For teachers: a peninsula or a curved, projecting tract of land.

- The ship sailed around the horn of the island to reach the harbor.
- The Horn of Africa is a strategically significant region that oversees some of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

### 7. to honk

verb · CEFR B2 · Dialect

to use the horn of a car to make a noise.

For teachers: to sound a vehicle's horn; primarily used in specific regional dialects.

- Don't horn so loudly; you will wake up the neighbors.
- The taxi driver continued to horn incessantly at the pedestrians who were blocking the narrow intersection.

Usage: Common in Indian and Singaporean English.

## Examples

- The driver honked his horn to warn the pedestrian.
- The farmer noticed that one goat had a broken horn after the animals fought in the field.
- While the rhinoceros is famous for its horn, the material is actually composed of densely packed keratin rather than the true bone found in bovine species.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.