receiver consisting of a pair of headphones
"He adjusted his headset to hear the instructor's voice clearly during the flight simulation."
A pair of headphones or earphones, or a singular headphone or earphone, typically with an attached microphone.
"She adjusted her headset to make sure the microphone was working before starting the call."
In plain English: A headset is a pair of headphones with a built-in microphone that you wear on your head to listen to audio and speak hands-free.
"The player put on the headset to listen to the game commentary without disturbing anyone else."
Usage: Use "headset" to describe a single unit combining headphones and a microphone for hands-free communication. Do not use it interchangeably with just "headphones," which lack the built-in microphone feature.
The word headset is a straightforward combination of the words head and set that describes equipment worn on one's head. It was formed to clearly indicate where the device sits rather than implying any change in its original components.