horn
/hɔːn/ (bre, ipa) · [hˈɔrn] /hɔːrn/ (ame, ipa) · [hˈɔrn] /ˈhȯrn/ (ame, mw)
horn — noun
- hornsingular
- hornsplural
1. a strong pointed part on the head of an animal such as a cow or goat, often bend
a strong pointed part on the head of an animal such as a cow or goat, often bending outward or upward
The goat caught Hamza's coat on one horn by the gate.
one horn: singular animal-part use
Ayesha sketched the ram's curved horns in her science notebook.
curved horns: typical animal description
The young bull rubbed its horn against the fence after the rain.
Farm workers checked the calves' horns before the autumn show.
文法句型
grow horns
curved horns
a horn on its head
用法筆記
Use this sense for the real hard growth on an animal's head. Distinguish from sense 6 ('HORN-SHAPED PART'), which is only something that resembles a true horn.
2. the device in a vehicle that makes a loud sound to warn people or get attention
the device in a vehicle that makes a loud sound to warn people or get attention
Jude hit the horn when a cyclist cut across the lane.
hit the horn: common driver action
The taxi driver sounded the horn outside the hotel entrance.
sound the horn: formal verb choice
A long horn on the bus warned people near the crossing.
At the green light, the van behind us blasted its horn.
文法句型
sound the horn
blow the horn
hit the horn
用法筆記
English often uses verbs such as 'sound', 'blow', or 'hit' with this sense. The word can also refer to the noise itself in informal speech, but here the core meaning is the device.
常見錯誤
3. a brass wind instrument with a long coiled tube and a wide bell, commonly used i
a brass wind instrument with a long coiled tube and a wide bell, commonly used in orchestras
Eri practices the horn in the school orchestra every Tuesday.
play the horn: orchestral instrument use
The horn came in softly after the violins ended the melody.
came in softly: orchestral entry
Joao rented a horn because carrying his own by train was hard.
The conductor asked the horn section to play the passage again.
- French horn
the full everyday name of this orchestral brass instrument
- orchestral horn
describes the same instrument by its typical setting
文法句型
play the horn
horn section
horn solo
用法筆記
This usually means the orchestral instrument often called a French horn. Distinguish from sense 4 ('BLOWN SIGNAL'), which is a simpler instrument used mainly for signals or calls.
4. a simple instrument that you blow into, often to send a signal or make a loud ca
a simple instrument that you blow into, often to send a signal or make a loud call
Christopher blew a horn to call the hunters back at dusk.
blow a horn: signaling pattern
The guard raised his horn and signaled the gate to open.
A brass horn hung beside the old drum in the village hall.
Sirin heard the horn before she saw the riders on the hill.
- bugle
a more specific small signaling brass instrument, especially in military settings
- hunting horn
a specific kind of horn used during a hunt or in ceremonial hunting music
文法句型
blow a horn
a hunting horn
hear the horn
用法筆記
This sense covers simple horns used for signals, hunting, or ceremony. Distinguish from sense 3 ('FRENCH HORN'), which refers to the large coiled instrument used in orchestras.
5. the tough natural material that animal horns are made from and that can also be
the tough natural material that animal horns are made from and that can also be shaped into objects
The craft shop sold combs carved from polished horn.
made from polished horn: material use
Yael bought a horn comb at the market in Oaxaca.
horn comb: object made from the material
The old buttons were made of horn, not plastic.
Museum labels explained how workers softened horn with heat.
- keratin
the scientific name for the main substance, not the ordinary craft word
- animal material
a much broader phrase that could include bone, shell, or leather as well
文法句型
made of horn
horn comb
polished horn
用法筆記
In this sense horn is usually uncountable and often follows 'made of'. It refers to the material itself, not to one horn growing on an animal.
6. a pointed part on a creature's head that looks like a horn without being a true
a pointed part on a creature's head that looks like a horn without being a true horn of the usual kind
The snail pulled in its little horns when Xiu touched the leaf.
pull in its horns: typical snail action
Two feathery horns rose above the owl's bright orange eyes.
horns above its eyes: horn-like appearance
The desert lizard showed two small horns above its eyes.
The baby snail stretched its horns toward the wet stone.
- projection
a general word for something that sticks out, without the horn-like image
- protuberance
a more formal term for a part that bulges or sticks out
文法句型
little horns
horns above its eyes
pull in its horns
用法筆記
Use this when the part only resembles a horn in shape. Distinguish from sense 1 ('HEAD GROWTH'), which is the normal hard horn of animals such as cows or goats.
7. the raised knob on the front of the kind of saddle used by cowboys, which a ride
the raised knob on the front of the kind of saddle used by cowboys, which a rider can hold or loop a rope around
The rider looped the rope around the saddle horn before lunch.
saddle horn: fixed ranching phrase
Mud dried on the horn at the front of the old saddle.
Joao hung his hat over the horn while he opened the gate.
The child gripped the horn tightly as the horse crossed the stream.
- saddle horn
the usual full phrase for this part of the saddle
- pommel
a broader riding term for the front part of a saddle; not always the same shape
文法句型
saddle horn
grip the horn
rope around the horn
用法筆記
Most often appears in the phrase 'saddle horn'. It refers to the raised front part of a western saddle, not to an animal horn.