a framing member crossing and supporting the ends of joists, studs, or rafters so as to transfer their weight to parallel joists, studs, or rafters
"The contractor installed a sturdy header across the top of the wall studs to properly support the heavy roof rafters."
a machine that cuts the heads off grain and moves them into a wagon
"The old combine's header struck every stalk as it swept across the golden field, feeding the cut grain directly into the waiting wagon."
(soccer) the act of hitting the ball with your head
"The striker timed his header perfectly to slot the ball into the top corner of the net."
The upper portion of a page (or other) layout.
"The designer moved the company logo to the top left corner of the header on every invoice page."
In plain English: A header is the top part of a webpage that usually shows the site's name and navigation links.
"The header on the front page lists the newspaper's name and today's date."
Usage: Use "header" to refer to the top section of a document or webpage that typically contains titles, logos, or navigation links. Avoid using it to mean the main body of text, which should instead be called the content or body.
To strike (a ball) with one's head.
"The striker managed to score a stunning goal by header-ing the ball directly into the net during extra time."
In plain English: To header something means to hit it with your head, usually while playing soccer.
"The striker headed the ball into the net."
Usage: As a verb, to header means to strike a ball or projectile with your head while playing sports like soccer or rugby. Use this term specifically when describing the action of directing the ball toward a goal or teammate using your forehead rather than your hands or feet.
The word header is formed by combining head with the suffix -er, originally describing someone or something that acts as a leader or top figure. It entered English directly from this straightforward construction without undergoing significant meaning shifts over time.