the front of a military formation or procession
"the head of the column advanced boldly"
"they were at the head of the attack"
the source of water from which a stream arises
"they tracked him back toward the head of the stream"
the tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates)
"The doctor warned that if we don't drain the head of the boil, it will burst on its own and spread infection."
the length or height based on the size of a human or animal head
"he is two heads taller than his little sister"
"his horse won by a head"
the educator who has executive authority for a school
"she sent unruly pupils to see the principal"
a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
"The ancient lighthouse stands perched on a jagged head where the cliffs meet the crashing waves."
the foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container
"the beer had a large head of foam"
the rounded end of a bone that fits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint
"the head of the humerus"
that part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves
"The surgeon had to carefully detach the head of the bicep tendon before repairing the torn ligament."
(computer science) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk
"The technician replaced the faulty head on our server's hard drive after it started making strange clicking noises."
(usually plural) the obverse side of a coin that usually bears the representation of a person's head
"call heads or tails!"
(nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship
"The captain nodded to the officer and ordered him to check the head before we docked at the marina."
The part of the body of an animal or human which contains the brain, mouth, and main sense organs.
"He gently patted his dog on the head to soothe it after the scary thunderstorm."
To do with heads.
"The captain ordered everyone to head for the lifeboats immediately after the alarm sounded."
In plain English: The head is the top part of your body that holds your brain, eyes, ears, and mouth.
"She put her head in her hands while thinking about the problem."
Usage: Use "head" to refer to the upper part of the human body that houses the brain and senses. Do not use it as a verb meaning "to lead" in this specific noun context.
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
"The captain knew he had to steer the ship carefully so it would head straight for the harbor and avoid the storm."
To be in command of. (See also head up.)
"Sarah will head the new marketing department starting next Monday."
In plain English: To head something means to direct your attention or energy toward it with purpose.
"The manager decided to head the new project team himself."
Usage: Use the verb "head" to mean leading or managing a group, such as when you say she heads the department. It functions similarly to "run" or "direct," often implying responsibility for the overall direction rather than just physical movement.
Of, relating to, or intended for the head.
"Despite his years of experience, he was not considered the head of the department until the CEO stepped down."
Foremost in rank or importance.
In plain English: Head describes something that is at the top or highest part of a group, list, or organization.
"The company decided to appoint a head chef to run the kitchen."
Usage: Use "head" as an adjective to describe someone who leads an organization or holds the highest position, such as a head chef or head of state. Do not confuse this with its use as a noun referring to body parts or fluid levels.
A surname, from Middle English, from residence near a hilltop or the head of a river, or a byname for someone with an odd-looking head.
"The mayor, whose family name is Head, often jokes about living at the top of the local ridge but insists it has nothing to do with his ancestors' strange hairstyles."
The word "head" comes from Old English, where it originally meant both the top part of the body and a leader or chief. It traveled into Modern English with this dual meaning, evolving from earlier Germanic roots that shared ancestry with words like "cap" and "chief."