horn (hɔːn
)
Definitions
noun
- either of a pair of permanent outgrowths on the heads of cattle, antelopes, sheep, etc, consisting of a central bony core covered with layers of keratin corneouskeratoid
- the outgrowth from the nasal bone of a rhinoceros, consisting of a mass of fused hairs
- any hornlike projection or process, such as the eyestalk of a snail
- the antler of a deer
- the constituent substance, mainly keratin, of horns, hooves, etc
- ((in combination) ⇒
horn-rimmed spectacles
- a container or device made from this substance or an artificial substitute ⇒
a shoe horn
a drinking horn
- an object or part resembling a horn in shape, such as the points at either end of a crescent, the point of an anvil, the pommel of a saddle, or a cornucopia
- a primitive musical wind instrument made from the horn of an animal
- any musical instrument consisting of a pipe or tube of brass fitted with a mouthpiece, with or without valves See hunting horn
, French horn
, cor anglais
- jazz slang any wind instrument
- a device for producing a warning or signalling noise
- ((in combination) ⇒
a foghorn
- (usually plural) the hornlike projection attributed to certain devils, deities, etc
- (usually plural) the imaginary hornlike parts formerly supposed to appear on the forehead of a cuckold
- horn balancean extension of an aircraft control surface that projects in front of the hinge providing aerodynamic assistance in moving the control
- Also called acoustic hornexponential horna hollow conical device coupled to the diaphragm of a gramophone to control the direction and quality of the sound
- any such device used to spread or focus sound, such as the device attached to an electrical loudspeaker in a public address system
- Also called horn antennaa microwave aerial, formed by flaring out the end of a waveguide
- geology another name for pyramidal peak
- a stretch of land or water shaped like a horn
- British slang an erection of the penis
- Bible a symbol of power, victory, or success ⇒
in my name shall his horn be exalted
- See blow one's horn
- See draw in one's horns
- See on the horns of a dilemma
verb (tr)
- to provide with a horn or horns
- to gore or butt with a horn
Alternative Forms
ˈhornless adjective ˈhornˌlike adjective Word Origin
Old English; related to Old Norse horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu horn
