HEAD
—none. 1 upper part of the human body, or foremost or upper part of an animal`s body, containing the brain, mouth, and sense-organs. 2 a seat of intellect (use your head). B mental aptitude or tolerance (a good head for business; no head for heights). 3 thing like a head in form or position, esp.: a the operative part of a tool. B the top of a nail. C the leaves or flowers at the top of a stem. D foam on the top of a glass of beer etc. 4 a person in charge, esp. The principal teacher of a school. B position of command. 5 front part of a queue etc. 6 upper end of a table or bed etc. 7 top or highest part of a page, stairs, etc. 8 a individual person as a unit (£10 per head). B (plural. Same) individual animal as a unit (20 head). 9 a side of a coin bearing the image of a head. B (usually. In plural.) This as a choice when tossing a coin. 10 a source of a river etc. B end of a lake at which a river enters it. 11 height or length of a head as a measure. 12 part of a machine in contact with or very close to what is being worked on, esp.: a the part of a tape recorder that touches the moving tape and converts signals. B the part of a record-player that holds the playing cartridge and stylus. 13 (usually. In phr. Come to a head) climax, crisis. 14 a confined body of water or steam in an engine etc. B pressure exerted by this. 15 promontory (esp. In place-names) (beachy head). 16 heading or headline. 17 fully developed top of a boil etc. 18 colloq. Headache. 19 (attrib.) Chief, principal. —verb. 1 be at the head or front of. 2 be in charge of. 3 provide with a head or heading. 4 (often foll. By for) face, move, or direct in a specified direction (is heading for trouble). 5 hit (a ball etc.) With the head. ? above (or over) one`s head beyond one`s understanding. Come to a head reach a crisis. Get it into one`s head (foll. By that) 1 adopt a mistaken idea. 2 form a definite plan. Give a person his (or her) head allow a person to act freely. Go to one`s head 1 make one slightly drunk. 2 make one conceited. Head off 1 get ahead of so as to intercept and turn aside. 2 forestall. Keep (or lose) one`s head remain (or fail to remain) calm. Off one`s head slang crazy. Off the top of one`s head colloq. Impromptu. On one`s (or one`s own) head as one`s own responsibility. Out of one`s head slang crazy. Over one`s head 1 beyond one`s understanding. 2 without one`s rightful knowledge or involvement, esp of action taken by a subordinate consulting one`s own superior. 3 with disregard for one`s own (stronger) claim (was promoted over my head). Put heads together consult together. Take it into one`s head (foll. By that + clause or to + infin.) Decide, esp. Impetuously. Turn a person`s head make a person conceited. [old english]