head
head — verb
1. to travel toward a specified destination or follow a route in a chosen direction
to travel toward a specified destination or follow a route in a chosen direction.
The group headed south toward the coast before the storm arrived.
head + direction adverb
After the conference ended, Daichi headed straight to the airport for his flight.
head + to [place]
We should head for the nearest shelter before the heavy rain begins.
Sari grabbed her suitcase and headed out the front door without looking back.
The old fishing boat was heading directly into the wind, slowing its progress.
文法句型
head + direction adverb (south, north, east, west)
head + to/for/into/toward + place
用法筆記
Usually followed by a direction word or a prepositional phrase indicating the destination. Does not take a direct object.
常見錯誤
2. to serve as the head of a team, organisation, or department by overseeing its op
to serve as the head of a team, organisation, or department by overseeing its operations and guiding decisions.
Dr. Okafor heads the research department at the university hospital.
head + [organisation/department]
A special committee was formed to head the fundraising campaign for the new library.
passive: be formed to head [project]
Karim will head the marketing team when the new product launches next month.
The school asked Brooke to head a full review of the science curriculum.
An international agency was established to head relief efforts after the earthquake.
文法句型
head + group/organisation/department
用法筆記
Frequently used with nouns referring to organisations, departments, teams, projects, or campaigns. The object is the entity being led.
常見錯誤
3. to occupy the foremost or highest position in an ordered set such as a list, ran
to occupy the foremost or highest position in an ordered set such as a list, ranking, or line.
Tomás heads the list of candidates for the student council election.
head + list/ranking
The cathedral's bell tower heads the row of historic buildings in the old square.
A large photograph of the winning team heads the article about the championship.
The colourful parade was headed by a group of musicians playing traditional drums.
The chapter on climate change heads the second half of the textbook.
文法句型
head + list/ranking/line/parade
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (LEADER): sense 3 describes physical or positional order (being at the top or front), not authority over people. Frequently found in descriptions of lists, parades, publications, and rankings.
常見錯誤
4. to use your head to strike a ball and direct its movement, especially in footbal
to use your head to strike a ball and direct its movement, especially in football or rugby.
Élise headed the ball into the goal during the final minute of the match.
head + ball + direction
The defender headed the ball away from the goal just before the whistle blew.
Zola jumped higher than anyone else and headed the ball to her teammate.
Caleb headed the ball back across the field toward the other team's goal.
文法句型
head + ball + direction/preposition
用法筆記
Most commonly used in football (soccer) and rugby. The direction is usually specified by a prepositional phrase or adverb. Not used for handball or volleyball, where different body parts contact the ball.
5. to cut off the head of a person or animal, especially as a form of execution or
to cut off the head of a person or animal, especially as a form of execution or during food preparation.
The executioner headed the prisoner with one clean strike of the axe.
historical context: execution
In some ancient societies, rulers would head their defeated enemies as a public warning.
The old stone relief shows a warrior heading a serpent with his bronze sword.
Fishermen near the port sometimes head the largest fish before storing them on ice.
- behead
more common in modern English; the preferred term for execution.
- decapitate
more formal or clinical; used in legal or medical contexts.
文法句型
head + person/animal
用法筆記
Less common than the synonym 'behead' in modern English. The verb 'head' in this sense appears most often in historical narratives, mythology, or technical descriptions of food preparation.
head — noun
1. the round or oval top part of a person's or animal's body that holds the face an
the round or oval top part of a person's or animal's body that holds the face and contains the brain.
Adisa shook his head slowly to show that he did not agree with the idea.
shake one's head — to show disagreement or refusal
The doctor asked Layla to turn her head left to check her ear.
turn one's head — movement of the head to look
Beatrix wore a bright red hat on her head to keep warm in the cold weather.
Gabriel bumped his head on the low door frame and cried out in pain.
The cat rubbed its head against Inês's leg and purred loudly.
用法筆記
Use with possessive determiners (my head, his head) when referring to a specific person's or animal's head.
常見錯誤
2. a single person or animal, used when stating a price or counting a group.
a single person or animal, used when stating a price or counting a group.
The restaurant charged fifty dollars a head for the three-course dinner.
a head — per person (pricing)
Hoa counted forty head of cattle grazing in the field near the river.
head of cattle — unit for counting livestock
The tour guide said the price was thirty dollars per head, including lunch and a boat ride.
Ritu's family owns about two hundred head of sheep on their farm in the hills.
- per person
more formal and explicit than 'a head' for pricing
- each
common in everyday pricing — 'ten dollars each'
用法筆記
When counting livestock, 'head' stays the same in plural — 'ten head of cattle' not 'ten heads'. For people, use 'per head' or 'a head' in pricing contexts only.
常見錯誤
3. a measurement based on the distance from the top of one head to the top of anoth
a measurement based on the distance from the top of one head to the top of another, used for comparing height or race results.
Lucía is a full head taller than her younger brother, even though he is twelve.
a head taller — used to compare height
The winning horse beat the second horse by half a head at the finish line.
by a head / half a head — margin of victory in racing
Ritu stood on her toes but was still a head too short for the top shelf.
The basketball player from Nigeria was almost a head taller than every other player on the court.
用法筆記
Most common in horse racing ('win by a head') and informal comparisons of people's height. Not used as an official measurement in science or construction.
常見錯誤
4. the part of a person where thinking, remembering, and imagining happen; the mind
the part of a person where thinking, remembering, and imagining happen; the mind or intelligence.
Adisa has a good head for numbers and can solve difficult maths problems quickly.
have a good head for [subject] — be naturally skilled at something
The song got stuck in Layla's head and she kept humming it all morning.
Beatrix tried to do the calculation in her head before writing down the answer.
Gabriel has a clear head even when everyone around him is panicking.
The strange dream stayed in Paloma's head long after she woke up.
用法筆記
Frequently used with prepositions 'in' (in my head, in your head — inside the mind) and 'for' (a good head for something — natural ability).
常見錯誤
5. the quality of remaining calm and not feeling scared when positioned far above t
the quality of remaining calm and not feeling scared when positioned far above the ground.
Inês has a good head for heights and happily climbed the mountain path near her village.
a good head for heights — not afraid of high places
Hoa could not look down from the tower because she does not have a head for heights.
not have a head for heights — feel afraid in high places
The window cleaner needs a steady head for heights to work on tall buildings.
Ritu's head for heights helped her enjoy the view from the top of the bridge.
- vertigo
the medical condition of feeling dizzy in high places; opposite of having a head for heights
用法筆記
Nearly always used in the fixed phrase 'a head for heights' (or 'a good head for heights'). Almost always negative ('don't have a head for heights') or paired with an adjective.
常見錯誤
6. someone who holds the most authority within a team, division, company, or simila
someone who holds the most authority within a team, division, company, or similar body.
The head of the department called a meeting to discuss the new project plans.
head of [department/organization] — the person in charge
Lucía was appointed head of the school's music programme last September.
The heads of the two companies met to talk about working together on a shared project.
Adisa's mother is the head of the local community centre in their town.
Christopher asked the head of the IT team for help with the broken server.
- subordinate
a person lower in rank who reports to someone above them
- member
a person who belongs to a group but does not run it
用法筆記
Used with 'of' to specify the domain — 'head of the department', 'head of the committee'. Unlike 'manager' or 'director', 'head' does not specify a company rank; it simply names the top person in that unit.
常見錯誤
7. a teacher who runs a school and looks after its students, other teachers, and th
a teacher who runs a school and looks after its students, other teachers, and the activities that happen there
Dahlia has been the head of Greenfield Primary School since 2020.
head of [school] for describing school leader
The head called a meeting to discuss new rules for the playground.
Joon's mother became the head of a large college in Busan.
If you lose your school bag, ask the head's office for help.
- headteacher
the full form, most common in UK primary schools
- principal
the standard American term, also used in some UK schools
- headmaster / headmistress
more traditional terms, used especially in private schools
文法句型
head + of + school
用法筆記
Used mainly in British English for the person who runs a school. In American English, 'principal' is more common.
常見錯誤
8. a student chosen to speak for and stand for their school at official gatherings
a student chosen to speak for and stand for their school at official gatherings and special ceremonies
Olivia was chosen as head girl and gave a speech at the opening ceremony.
head girl / head boy for student representatives
As head boy, Nikhil welcomed new families at the school open day.
The head boy and head girl led the parade through the town centre.
Ritu hopes to become head girl next year when she is in her final year.
- head boy
the male student representative
- head girl
the female student representative
- student representative
a more general term for any student chosen to speak for others
用法筆記
Common in British schools. 'Head boy' and 'head girl' are the usual forms. This role is different from 'prefect' — head boy/girl are the top student representatives.
9. the highest part, far end, or starting point of something such as a page, set of
the highest part, far end, or starting point of something such as a page, set of stairs, or written document
Write your full name at the head of the page before you begin.
the head of the page for top of document
The hikers placed a wooden sign at the head of the mountain path.
Hassan stood at the head of the stairs and called down to his brother.
The head of the letter shows the date and the sender's address.
文法句型
the head of [something]
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'the' in the pattern 'the head of [something]'. Common for pages, stairs, tables, and documents, but not for everyday objects — 'top' is more general.
常見錯誤
10. the wider or heavier end of a tool such as a hammer, or the flat top of a nail t
the wider or heavier end of a tool such as a hammer, or the flat top of a nail that you strike with a tool
Sivan hit the nail's head three times until it went into the wood.
nail's head for the flat striking surface
The head of the hammer broke after years of heavy use in the workshop.
Make sure you hit the nail's head squarely, not your thumb or the wood.
Élise checked the hammer's head for cracks before starting the job.
文法句型
the head of [a tool]
11. the leaves, flowers, or other compact growth at the top of a plant stem, such as
the leaves, flowers, or other compact growth at the top of a plant stem, such as the flower of a sunflower or the leaves of a cabbage
The gardener cut off the heads of the sunflowers when they dried out.
head(s) of [sunflower / cabbage / lettuce]
Each stem had a large purple head that opened in the morning light.
Bilal picked a cabbage with a firm green head from the vegetable patch.
The rose heads were heavy with water after the morning rain.
- flower head
specifically the flowering part of a plant
- bloom
used for the flower itself, not the leafy growth
文法句型
the head of [a plant]
用法筆記
Common in gardening and cooking contexts. Used for flowers (sunflower head), vegetables (cabbage head, lettuce head), and grain plants (head of wheat).
12. the white frothy bubbles that appear at the surface of beer or other carbonated
the white frothy bubbles that appear at the surface of beer or other carbonated drinks when they are poured out
The bartender poured the beer slowly so the head would not spill over.
the head for foam on beer
Hana prefers her beer with a thick white head of foam on top.
A good head on the beer shows that it was poured with proper care.
The head of bubbles disappeared quickly, leaving flat beer behind.
13. the point at which a river or stream begins its flow, usually high in hills or m
the point at which a river or stream begins its flow, usually high in hills or mountains
The hikers traced the stream back to its head in the mountain valley.
collocation: head of a river / stream
Daichi marked the head of the river on his map with a small blue dot.
This village lies near the river's head, where the water first rises above ground.
Scientists measured the water level at the river's head every month during the dry season.
- mouth
the place where a river flows into the sea, opposite end from the head
用法筆記
Often used in the phrase 'head of the river' or 'river's head.' This sense is mainly found in geography and hiking contexts.
14. the white or yellow top of a pimple or boil where pus has gathered and the skin
the white or yellow top of a pimple or boil where pus has gathered and the skin is about to break open
Tariq tried not to touch the head of the pimple on his chin.
collocation: head of a pimple
The doctor said the boil's head would burst in a day or two.
possessive: boil's head
Dahlia covered the head of the spot with a small plaster before going to school.
When a pimple's head turns white, the pus is close to the skin surface.
用法筆記
Common in everyday speech about skin problems. 'Head' is also used for boils and larger skin infections.
15. the portrait side on a coin, called 'heads' when people toss it to decide betwee
the portrait side on a coin, called 'heads' when people toss it to decide between two choices
Kemi called heads before her brother tossed the coin into the air.
phrasal verb: call heads
The captain won the coin toss and chose heads for the first half.
Christopher shouted 'heads!' but the coin landed showing the tails side instead.
In the old coin collection, the queen's head faced right on every silver piece.
The referee flipped a coin and asked the visiting team to call heads or tails.
- obverse
the formal technical term for the front side of a coin; much less common in everyday speech
- tails
the opposite side of a coin that does not show a head image
用法筆記
This word is almost always used in the plural form 'heads' when referring to the coin-toss choice. The singular 'head' can describe the image side in a technical or collecting context.
常見錯誤
16. the component inside a recording device, hard disk, or tape player that reads, w
the component inside a recording device, hard disk, or tape player that reads, writes, or removes data from a magnetic surface
Mathieu cleaned the read-write head of the old cassette player with rubbing alcohol.
compound: read-write head
A hard disk can crash if the read head touches the spinning surface.
The technician replaced the broken tape head in the video recorder.
Modern solid-state drives have no moving head because they store data on memory chips.
- read-write head
the full compound term; slightly more specific than 'head' alone
用法筆記
Frequently appears in compounds: 'read head,' 'write head,' 'read-write head,' 'tape head,' 'playback head.' Most common in discussions of older magnetic storage technology.
17. the central word in a group of words that determines the group's grammatical rol
the central word in a group of words that determines the group's grammatical role in a sentence
In the phrase 'the old wooden bridge,' the head is the noun 'bridge'.
example pattern: 'in X, the head is Y'
A grammar student learns to identify the head of each phrase in a sentence.
The head of a noun phrase is almost always a noun or a pronoun.
Tanvi explained how the head of a prepositional phrase must be a preposition.
- governing word
an alternative term used in some grammar traditions; less common than 'head'
用法筆記
The head of a phrase can usually be replaced by a single word of the same type without changing the phrase's grammatical role. For example, in 'the tall man in a suit,' 'man' can stand alone.
18. a narrow stretch of raised land that runs from the coast out over the sea, often
a narrow stretch of raised land that runs from the coast out over the sea, often with steep cliffs
The lighthouse sits on a rocky head that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.
collocation: rocky head
Sailors watch for the head of land as a sign that the harbour is near.
Ari hiked to the end of the headland where the cliffs drop to the sea.
The old map named the rocky head 'Fisherman's Point' along the coastline.
- headland
the more common full form; 'head' alone is shorter but less frequent in modern usage
- promontory
a more formal and technical term; sounds less natural in casual description
- cape
similar meaning but usually refers to a larger, more prominent landform
用法筆記
This sense is more common in place names (e.g., 'Beachy Head,' 'Berry Head') and in formal or written geographical descriptions than in everyday speech.
19. the spot taken by the first person or vehicle in a moving row, such as a queue,
the spot taken by the first person or vehicle in a moving row, such as a queue, a parade, or a military formation
The parade was led by a marching band at the head of the line.
pattern: at the head of + group
Children at the head of the queue ran inside as soon as the doors opened.
collocation: at the head of the queue
Nkechi stood at the head of the procession holding a large blue flag.
Beatrix waved to the crowd from the head of the marching column.
The soldiers at the head of the formation marched straight into the town.
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'at the head of' followed by a noun phrase referring to a group, queue, or procession.
常見錯誤
20. sexual activity in which the mouth and tongue are used to stimulate a partner's
sexual activity in which the mouth and tongue are used to stimulate a partner's genitals
Some couples enjoy oral sex as part of their intimate relationship.
informal register; clinical context
Many sex education classes discuss both oral sex and other forms of sexual activity.
Ava felt uncomfortable when her partner pressured her for oral sex early in the relationship.
The clinic provides information on how to reduce the risk of infections during oral sex.
- fellatio
the clinical term for oral stimulation of a penis
- cunnilingus
the clinical term for oral stimulation of a vulva or vagina
- going down on someone
a more casual, slang expression
用法筆記
Considered informal or direct; more clinical alternatives include the specific terms 'fellatio' and 'cunnilingus', which are used in medical or formal writing.
head — adjective
1. relating to the head or the top part of something.
relating to the head or the top part of something.
Yael suffered a serious head injury during the rugby match and was taken to hospital.
collocation: head injury
The school nurse checked all the children for head lice after several cases were reported.
Élise bought a special head pillow to support her neck during long flights.
Head massages can help reduce stress and relieve tension after a long day at work.
A head covering is required when entering the temple as a sign of respect.
- cranial
technical medical term; much more formal and limited to anatomy contexts.
文法句型
head + noun (head injury, head hair, head massage)
用法筆記
Always used before a noun — never after a linking verb. Common in medical contexts (head trauma, head injury) and everyday descriptions of hair, skin, and accessories.
常見錯誤
2. most important; having the highest position or rank.
most important; having the highest position or rank.
The head chef at that restaurant trained in Paris for over seven years.
collocation: head chef
Anthony works in the head office of a large insurance company in Taipei.
The head waiter greeted the guests and showed them to a table by the window.
Kofi was promoted to head coach of the national team after four successful seasons.
Iris consulted the head librarian about rare books in the university collection.
- chief
interchangeable in most formal job titles (chief executive / head executive); 'head' is slightly more common for service roles.
- principal
more formal; often used in educational or legal contexts (principal dancer, principal investigator).
- main
less formal; focuses on importance rather than rank (main office, main branch).
文法句型
head + job title (head chef, head waiter, head coach)
用法筆記
Always placed before a noun describing a person's role or a location. Cannot be used with 'the' before it in this adjective sense — 'the head office' is fine, but compare with the noun pattern: 'the head of the office' (noun) versus 'head office' (adjective).
常見錯誤
3. at the top, front, or most important end of something.
at the top, front, or most important end of something.
The head wall of the canyon rose steeply above the hikers below.
collocation: head wall
Farmers opened the head gate of the irrigation canal every morning at dawn.
collocation: head gate
Sirin climbed carefully toward the head end of the glacier to take photographs.
The head waters of this river begin in snowmelt high in the mountains.
文法句型
head + noun (head wall, head gate, head end)
用法筆記
Less common in everyday speech; found mainly in geography, engineering, and outdoor activity contexts (mountaineering, farming, hydrology). Do not confuse with the noun phrase 'head of [something]' (e.g., 'head of the bed'), which uses 'head' as a noun, not an adjective.
常見錯誤
4. blowing or moving directly against the direction of travel.
blowing or moving directly against the direction of travel.
The sailboat made very slow progress against the strong head wind from the north.
collocation: head wind
Runners faced a cold head wind during the final kilometre of the marathon.
collocation: head wind
The pilot reported head winds of over eighty kilometres per hour across the Pacific.
Vinícius struggled against the head current while swimming back to the shore.
文法句型
head + noun (head wind, head sea, head current)
用法筆記
Almost always used before the nouns 'wind', 'sea', 'current', or 'tide'. The opposite condition is a 'tail wind' (wind blowing from behind). Common in aviation, sailing, and outdoor sports contexts.
常見錯誤
head — suffix
1. used at the end of certain words to mean a person who is obsessed with or addict
used at the end of certain words to mean a person who is obsessed with or addicted to something
The judge sentenced the cokehead to three years in a rehabilitation centre.
suffix -head: noun for an addict
Ada's older brother became a complete pothead after he dropped out of college.
suffix -head: informal noun for habitual user
Karim called the stranger a dickhead for pushing past him in the queue.
The outreach worker found a young methhead sleeping under the bridge last night.
Tara warned her brother not to hang out with the crackheads near the park.
文法句型
[noun/substance] + -head → noun describing a person
用法筆記
Highly informal and often derogatory. In compounds referring to drug addiction (cokehead, crackhead, methhead), the suffix carries strong negative judgment. In general insults (dickhead, butthead), it is vulgar. Avoid in formal or academic writing.