{ "term": "head", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a1", "image": "data/images/bo/body.png", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "the part of the body on top of the neck containing the eyes, nose, mouth and brain", "labels": "(informal)(formal)(British English)(British English)(disapproving)(both informal, often disapproving)(informal, disapproving)", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She **nodded her head** in agreement." }, { "text": "He **shook his head** in disbelief." }, { "text": "The boys **hung their heads** in shame." }, { "text": "She **turned her head** to look at him." }, { "text": "They **bowed their heads** in prayer." }, { "text": "She **tilted her head** back and closed her eyes." }, { "text": "to raise/lift/lower your head" }, { "text": "He was shot in the head and died ten minutes later." }, { "text": "The driver suffered **head injuries**." }, { "text": "He still has a good **head of hair** *(= a lot of hair)*." }, { "text": "a woman with a beautiful head of chestnut hair" }, { "text": "He lay writhing on the ground, clutching his head in pain." }, { "text": "He put his head around the door." }, { "text": "He put his head in his hands, exasperated." }, { "text": "He scratched his head, not understanding a word." }, { "text": "He shaved his head and became a monk." }, { "text": "He threw his head back and laughed out loud." }, { "text": "Her head tilted to one side as she considered the question." }, { "text": "His head drooped and tears fell into his lap." }, { "text": "I banged my head on the door frame." }, { "text": "I'm normally asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow." }, { "text": "She declined with a brief shake of the head." }, { "text": "She jerked her head in the direction of the door." }, { "text": "She rested her head on his shoulder." }, { "text": "She sat with bowed head." }, { "text": "The ambassador dismissed him with a curt nod of the head." }, { "text": "The city gates were adorned with severed heads." }, { "text": "The soldiers were ordered to fire over the heads of the crowd." }, { "text": "The thunder burst with a grand crash above our heads." } ], "topics": ["Body"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["bare", "bald", "shaved"], "verb + head": ["poke", "pop", "put"], "head + verb": ["ache", "pound", "throb"], "head + noun": ["injury", "cold"], "preposition": ["above your head", "over your head"], "phrases": [ "from head to foot", "from head to toe", "a fine, full, good, thick, etc. head of hair" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "the mind or brain", "sensetop": "in somebody's headinto somebody's headout of somebody's head", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "I sometimes wonder what goes on in that head of yours." }, { "text": "I wish you'd **use your head** *(= think carefully before doing or saying something)*." }, { "text": "The thought **never entered my head**." }, { "text": "His **head was spinning** *(= he felt or confused) after only one drink." }, { "text": "I can't work it out in my head—I need a calculator.", "contextForm": "in somebody's head" }, { "text": "She started hearing voices in her head." }, { "text": "Who's been putting such weird ideas into your head *(= making you believe that)*?", "contextForm": "into somebody's head" }, { "text": "I can't get that tune out of my head.", "contextForm": "out of somebody's head" }, { "text": "Try to put the exams out of your head *(= stop thinking about them)*." }, { "text": "It was the first name that popped into my head." }, { "text": "It was an accident, said a voice inside his head." }, { "text": "I decided to go for a walk to clear my head." }, { "text": "He looked at me as if I needed my head examined." }, { "text": "It never entered my head that he might be lying." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["clear", "cool", "level"], "verb + head": ["use", "enter", "pop into"], "head + verb": ["spin"], "preposition": ["in your head", "inside your head"], "phrases": [ "can’t get your head round something", "need your head examined", "your thick head" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "the size of a person’s or animal’s head, used as a measurement of distance or height", "examples": [ { "text": "She's a good head taller than her sister." }, { "text": "The favourite won **by a short head** *(= a distance slightly less than the length of a horse's head)*." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "a continuous pain in your head", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "I woke up with a really bad head this morning." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "the person in charge of a group of people or an organization", "sensetop": "head of something", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "the **heads of government/state**", "contextForm": "head of something" }, { "text": "She resigned as **head of department**." }, { "text": "I've asked the **department head** for an appointment." }, { "text": "a **former head** of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange" }, { "text": "He is **deputy head** of the National Railway Museum." }, { "text": "the crowned heads *(= the kings and queens)* of Europe" }, { "text": "I was **head coach** of a Little League basketball team in Pittsburgh." }, { "text": "the head gardener/chef/waiter" }, { "text": "He is only the nominal head of the company." }, { "text": "The King is titular head of the Church of England." }, { "text": "The Bishop is head of the Church in Kenya." } ], "topics": ["Jobs", "People in society"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["assistant", "deputy", "department"], "head + noun": ["coach", "gardener", "teacher"], "phrases": [ "a head of department", "the head of the family", "the head of the household" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "the person in charge of a school or college", "labels": "(British English)", "cefr": "b2", "examples": [ { "text": "I've been called in to see the Head." }, { "text": "the **deputy head**" }, { "text": "I remember sitting outside the Head's office waiting to be called in." }, { "text": "She is deputy head of Greenlands Comprehensive, a struggling inner city school." }, { "text": "The minister has written to every secondary head in Scotland." } ], "topics": ["Education"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["assistant", "deputy", "department"], "head + noun": ["coach", "gardener", "teacher"], "phrases": [ "a head of department", "the head of the family", "the head of the household" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "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 something", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "I called heads and it came down tails." } ], "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"], "collocations": { "verb + heads": ["call", "come down", "come up"], "phrases": ["heads or tails?"] } }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "the end of a long narrow object that is larger or wider than the rest of it", "sensetop": "head (of something)", "examples": [ { "text": "the head of a nail" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 9, "definition": "the top or highest part of something", "sensetop": "head of something", "examples": [ { "text": "at the head of the page" }, { "text": "They finished the season at the head of their league." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 10, "definition": "the place where a river begins", "sensetop": "the head of the river", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [], "topics": ["Geography"] }, { "senseNumber": 11, "definition": "the most important seat at a table", "sensetop": "the head of the table", "examples": [ { "text": "The President sat at the head of the table." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 12, "definition": "the position at the front of a line of people", "sensetop": "the head of something", "examples": [ { "text": "The prince rode at the head of his regiment." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 13, "definition": "the mass of leaves or flowers at the end of a stem", "sensetop": "head (of something)", "examples": [ { "text": "Remove the dead heads to encourage new growth." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 14, "definition": "the mass of small bubbles on the top of a glass of beer", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 15, "definition": "the part of a spot on your skin that contains a thick yellow liquid (= pus)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 16, "definition": "the component of a sound or video recording system that converts data on the disk or tape into digital electronic data (and the other way round)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 17, "definition": "used to say how many animals of a particular type are on a farm, in a herd, etc.", "sensetop": "head of something", "examples": [ { "text": "200 head of sheep" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 18, "definition": "oral sex (= using the mouth to give somebody sexual pleasure)", "labels": "(taboo, slang)", "examples": [ { "text": "to give head" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 19, "definition": "the central part of a phrase, which has the same grammatical function as the whole phrase. In the phrase ‘the tall man in a suit’, man is the head.", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to force people to stop arguing and behave in a sensible way", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to keep trying to do something that will never be successful", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "Trying to reason with them was like banging my head against a brick wall." } ], "topics": ["Difficulty and failure"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be much better than other people or things", "examples": [ { "text": "His performance stood head and shoulders above the rest." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to shout at somebody in an angry way, especially without reason", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if you bring a situation to a head or if a situation comes to a head, you are forced to deal with it quickly because it suddenly becomes very bad", "examples": [ { "text": "The chairman's resignation finally brought matters to a head." }, { "text": "The dispute finally came to a head in March that year." }, { "text": "Things came to a head when several of the nurses made a formal complaint." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to refuse to admit that a problem exists or refuse to deal with it", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be unable to understand something", "examples": [ { "text": "I couldn't make head nor tail of what he was saying." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make somebody feel confused, upset and/or annoyed", "labels": "(British English, informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "Shut up! You're doing my head in." } ], "topics": ["Personal qualities"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be able to do something very easily and without having to think too much", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make somebody remember something by repeating it a lot of times", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "covering your whole body", "examples": [ { "text": "We were covered from head to foot in mud." }, { "text": "She was dressed from head to toe in red." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to sleep", "labels": "(British English)", "examples": [ { "text": "I managed to get my head down for an hour." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to avoid attracting attention to yourself", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be able to understand or accept something", "labels": "(British English, informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "She's dead. I can't get my head round it yet." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to start to understand or think something", "examples": [ { "text": "When will you get it into your head that I don't want to discuss this any more!" }, { "text": "For some reason she's got it into her head that I don't like her." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to allow somebody to do what they want without trying to stop them", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to give somebody hopes about something that may not be possible or likely; to make somebody act or think in an unreasonable way", "examples": [ { "text": "Who's been putting ideas into his head?" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to deal with somebody in a very direct and determined way", "examples": [ { "text": "The company will be going head to head with the giant of the pharmaceuticals market." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to make you feel drunk", "examples": [ { "text": "That glass of wine has gone straight to my head." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to make you feel too proud of yourself in a way that other people find annoying", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be aware of everything that is happening around you, even things that seem difficult or impossible to see", "examples": [ { "text": "You can’t get away with anything in her class. She has eyes in the back of her head." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be a sensible person", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to be good at something", "examples": [ { "text": "to have **a head for figures/business**" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "if somebody does not have a head for heights, they feel nervous and think they are going to fall when they look down from a high place", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be reading", "examples": [ { "text": "She always has her nose in a book." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to be thinking about something that is not connected with what you are doing", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to have ideas, plans, etc. that are not realistic", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be a sensible person", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to have somewhere to live", "examples": [ { "text": "Thanks to Bob’s generosity, I still have a roof over my head." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "for each person", "examples": [ { "text": "The meal worked out at $20 a head." } ], "topics": ["Money"] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "moving forwards or downwards with your head in front of the rest of your body", "examples": [ { "text": "He fell head first down the stairs." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "without thinking carefully about something before acting", "examples": [ { "text": "She got divorced and rushed head first into another marriage." } ], "synonyms": "headlong" }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "your head feels as though it is going round and round and you cannot balance, especially because you are ill or confused or have had a shock; to make you feel like this", "examples": [ { "text": "Her head was spinning from the pain." }, { "text": "His theories on economics are enough to make your head spin." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "the pressure produced by steam in a small space", "examples": [ { "text": "The old engine still manages to build up a good head of steam." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "a situation in which somebody/something becomes gradually more active or successful", "examples": [ { "text": "This campaign has been steadily **building up a head of steam**." }, { "text": "United have recently gathered a head of steam in the title race." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "loving somebody very much", "examples": [ { "text": "He's fallen head over heels in love with his boss." } ], "topics": ["Feelings"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to ask somebody which side of a coin they think will be facing upwards when it is tossed in order to decide something by chance", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that some people will be punished because of something that has happened", "labels": "(informal, usually humorous)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to say something that is exactly right", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to force somebody to do something that they do not want to do, by making threats", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be proud of or not feel ashamed about something that you have done", "examples": [ { "text": "She managed to hold her head high and ignore what people were saying." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to threaten somebody that you will hit them", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "involved in something that is too difficult for you to deal with", "examples": [ { "text": "After a week in the new job, I soon realized that I was in over my head." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to remain calm in a difficult situation", "examples": [ { "text": "She needed to keep a clear head if she was to remain in control." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to deal with a difficult situation, especially one in which you have financial problems, and just manage to survive", "examples": [ { "text": "I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be able to keep our heads above water." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to avoid attracting attention to yourself", "examples": [ { "text": "If I were you, I’d keep your head down for a couple of weeks." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to laugh very loudly and for a long time", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to laugh, etc. a lot and very loudly", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to act according to what you feel rather than to what you think is sensible", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "in a bad mood; in an angry way", "examples": [ { "text": "I should keep out of his way. He’s like a bear with a sore head this morning." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to become unable to act in a calm or sensible way", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make somebody feel annoyed, anxious or upset", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "When they spend all this time on social media, they are seeing things that mess with their heads." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be crazy", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to not spend time/effort on something, because it is not important or you are not interested in it", "labels": "(especially British English)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to not hurt somebody physically in any way", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "just guessing or using your memory, without taking time to think carefully or check the facts", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "I can't remember the name off the top of my head, but I can look it up for you." } ], "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to describe a young person who acts in a more sensible way than you would expect for a person of their age", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to tell somebody that they will have to accept any unpleasant results of something that they decide to do", "examples": [ { "text": "Tell him the truth if you want to, but on your own head be it!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "crazy", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "not knowing what you are saying or doing because of the effects of alcohol or drugs", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "too difficult or complicated for somebody to understand", "examples": [ { "text": "A lot of the jokes went *(= were)* right over my head." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to a higher position of authority than somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "I couldn't help feeling jealous when she was promoted over my head." }, { "text": "I’m not happy that you went over my head to ask for this time off." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "an amount of money that is offered for capturing or killing somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "Ever since he killed the gang’s leader, there has been a price on his head." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to risk losing your job, damaging your reputation, etc. by doing or saying something", "examples": [ { "text": "It's not a matter that I'm prepared to put my head on the block for." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to think about or discuss something as a group", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if something unpleasant rears its head or rears its ugly head, it appears or happens", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make you feel that you can still hear something", "examples": [ { "text": "His warning was still ringing in my ears." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to think hard in order to find an answer to something", "examples": [ { "text": "Experts have been scratching their heads over the increase in teenage crime." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make people think about something in a completely different way", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be remembered for a long time", "examples": [ { "text": "One of his paintings in particular sticks in my mind." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to suddenly start thinking something, especially something that other people think is stupid", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to suddenly decide to do something, especially something that other people think is stupid", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a physical condition in which your head is painful or you cannot think clearly as a result of an illness or of drinking too much alcohol", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "You’re going to have a thick head in the morning!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make a person feel too proud in a way that other people find annoying", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that two people can achieve more than one person working alone", "labels": "(saying)", "examples": [], "topics": ["Success"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to tell somebody to think about something, especially when they have asked for your opinion or said something stupid", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "‘Why don't you want to see him again?’ ‘Oh, use your head!’" } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/hed/", "audio": "he/head/head__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/hed/", "audio": "he/head/head__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Old English hēafod, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoofd and German Haupt." }