head

Everyday

1. Your head is the top part of your body, with your eyes, nose, mouth, ears and brain. tree →
2. The head of a group is the leader or the person in charge, like the head teacher. tree →
3. The head of something is its top or front part, like the head of the table or the head of a line. tree →
4. Heads is the side of a coin with a face on it. tree →
5. To head somewhere is to go towards it. tree →
6. To head a ball is to hit it with your head. tree →
7. A head of lettuce or cabbage is one whole one. tree →

In the lessons

One per animal or person, used for counting animals (heads and legs); the heads side of a coin in chance problems. In science: the brain is in the head; wear a helmet to protect your head. In stories: the knight headed for the castle. Phrases: «head home», «head start», «heads or tails», «per head», «use your head», «head over heels».

Examples

• The farm has 20 heads and 56 legs of hens and cows. tree →
• Each head of lettuce costs 2 dollars. tree →
• The coin landed on heads 7 times. tree →
• They headed home after 3 hours. tree →
• Always wear a helmet to protect your head on a bike. tree →
• Our head teacher talked at assembly. tree →
• Use your head and think before you answer. tree →
• The ticket costs 5 dollars per head. tree →
• "Yes," she said, nodding her head. tree →

Note

Counting heads counts animals or people (one each); heads-and-legs puzzles compare legs. «Per head» means for each person. Trap: «a head of lettuce» is one lettuce, not a body part. A fair coin gives heads about half the time. Hit your head hard? Tell an adult.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, "head" can also mean a chief or leader, and the first or top of something. Bowing the head is a sign of worship. In the Writings, "heads of fathers' houses" are the chiefs of families and clans. The prophets also use "head" for the whole person or the whole people, as when Isaiah says "the whole head is sick."

Interpretation. Bowing the head shows humility before God, as with Moses. The month of Nisan is called "head of months," and Rosh Hashanah means "head of the year." Tradition reads Isaiah's "whole head is sick" as a picture of a people sick from top to bottom, and the family chiefs in Chronicles show how the tribes kept their records.

Examples

• And Israel bowed down upon the bed's head. (Torah GEN.47.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the man bowed his head, and prostrated himself before the LORD. (Torah GEN.24.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. (Torah EXO.34.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• These were his sons, heads of fathers' houses. (Writings 1CH.8.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. (Writings 1CH.23.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint; (Prophets ISA.1.5, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Counting heads counts animals or people (one each); heads-and-legs puzzles compare legs. «Per head» means for each person. Trap: «a head of lettuce» is one lettuce, not a body part. A fair coin gives heads about half the time. Hit your head hard? Tell an adult.