Head

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Head

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun, verb, and adjective

Pronunciation

hed  /hɛd/

Definition

As a noun: the upper part of the human body containing the brain; a person in charge; the top or front of something; a single individual (as in fifty head of cattle); a topic or category. As a verb: to be in charge of; to move in a direction; to head off (to intercept). As an adjective: chief or leading.

Plain meaning

Head has more meanings than almost any other word in English — from the top of the body to the top of an organisation, from heading a ball to heading home, from heads of state to the foam head on a pint of beer. It is one of the most versatile words in the language.

Register

Neutral and extremely versatile. Head is used in every register from the most formal (head of state, head of government) to the most colloquial (use your head, keep your head). The sheer number of idioms and compounds built on head makes it one of the most important words in English vocabulary.