head
Definitions
The part of the body containing the brain, eyes, and mouth, on top of the neck.
头，头部（含大脑、眼、口，位于脖子之上）。
The person in charge; the leader or chief of a group or organization.
负责人，首领，头儿（团体或组织的领导）。
The top or front part of something; the most prominent end.
顶端，前端，最显要的一头。
To lead or be in charge of a group, company, or project.
领导，主管（团体、公司或项目）。
To move or travel in a particular direction.
朝（某方向）前进，前往。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedA single native English root from Old English heafod ('head'). One physical idea — the head on top of the body — branches into all the senses: the body part, the chief (the top/decision-maker), the front or top of something, and as a verb both 'to lead' (be at the top) and 'to head somewhere' (point your head that way).
Root head still carries 14 more wordsWhy It Means This
Why does one little word cover a body part, a boss, a direction, and a verb? Because the head is on top and goes first. 'On top' gave us the chief sense (head of state) and the top-of-something sense (head of the table). 'Goes first' gave us the front sense and the verb 'head north.' And because we think with our heads, head also seeped into idioms about the mind: use your head, keep a cool head, lose your head.
Common Collocations
- 1.head of state国家元首
- 2.shake your head摇头
- 3.head of the department部门负责人
- 4.from head to toe从头到脚
- 5.head straight for径直前往
Example Sentences
- 1.
She turned her head to see who was calling her.
- 2.
As head of the department, he makes the final decision.
- 3.
Write your name at the head of the page.
- 4.
She now heads a team of twenty engineers.
- 5.
After the meeting we headed straight for the airport.
Synonym Comparison
- head — the leader at the very top, esp. of an organization: head of state, head teacher
- leader — the most general word; anyone others follow, formal or informal
- chief — the top person in a hierarchy, often a title: chief of police, fire chief
- boss — informal, the person you report to at work
- director — leads a department or organization, an official role: director of marketing