word-vault
Version:
A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.
1,015 lines (1,014 loc) • 36.5 kB
JSON
{
"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."
}