Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense noses, present participle nosing, past tense, past participle nosed
1. countable noun [oft poss NOUN]
Your nose is the part of your face which sticks out above your mouth. You use it for smelling and breathing.
She wiped her nose with a tissue.
She's got funny eyes and a big nose.
Synonyms: snout, bill, beak [slang], hooter [slang] More Synonyms of nose
2. countable noun [oft poss NOUN]
The nose of a vehicle such as a car or aeroplane is the front part of it.
Sue parked off the main street, with the van's nose pointing away from the street.
3. countable noun
You can refer to your sense of smell as your nose.
The river that runs through Middlesbrough became ugly on the eye and hard on thenose.
4. singular noun [usu by aN]
If a horse wins a race by anose, it wins by a very small distance.
[mainly US]
Chirkpar rattled past him on the right to snatch the prize by a nose.
5. verb
If a vehicle noses in a certain direction or if you nose it there, you move it slowly and carefully in that direction.
He could not see the driver as the car nosed forward. [VERB adverb/preposition]
A motorboat nosed out of the mist and nudged into the branches of a tree. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Ben drove past them, nosing his car into the garage. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
6. See also hard-nosed, toffee-nosed
7.
See to keep your nose clean
8.
See to follow your nose
9.
See follow one's nose
10.
See have a nose for sth
11.
See get up sb's nose
12.
See to look down your nose at someone
13.
See to pay through the nose
14.
See to poke your nose into something
15.
See rub sb's nose in sth
16.
See to cut off your nose to spite your face
17.
See nose to tail
18.
See to thumb your nose at someone
19.
See turn up one's nose at sth
20.
See under sb's nose
21. to put someone's nose out of joint
Phrasal verbs:
See nose around
More Synonyms of nose
nose in British English
(nəʊz)
noun
1.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract, consisting of a prominent structure divided into two hair-lined air passages by a median septum
▶ Related adjectives: nasal, rhinal
2.
the sense of smell itself: in hounds and other animals, the ability to follow trails by scent (esp in the phrases a good nose, a bad nose)
3. another word for bouquet (sense 2)
4.
instinctive skill or facility, esp in discovering things (sometimes in the phrase follow one's nose)
she had a nose for good news stories
5. Also called: noser
a person employed by a distillery or other alcohol-producing industry to test the quality of the product by smell
6.
any part regarded as resembling a nose in form or function, such as a nozzle or spout
7.
the forward part of a vehicle, aircraft, etc, esp the front end of an aircraft
8.
narrow margin of victory (in the phrase (win) by a nose)
9. cut off one's nose to spite one's face
10. get up someone's nose
11. keep one's nose clean
12. keep one's nose to the grindstone
13. lead someone by the nose
14. look down one's nose at
15. nose to tail
16. on the nose
17. pay through the nose
18. poke one's nose into
19. put someone's nose out of joint
20. rub someone's nose in it
21. see no further than one's nose
22. turn up one's nose
23. under one's nose
24. with one's nose in the air
verb
25. (transitive)
(esp of horses, dogs, etc) to rub, touch, or sniff with the nose; nuzzle
26.
to smell or sniff (wine, etc)
27. (intr; usually foll by after or for)
to search (for) by or as if by scent
28.
to move or cause to move forwards slowly and carefully
the car nosed along the cliff top
we nosed the car into the garage
29. (intr; foll by into, around, about, etc)
to pry or snoop (into) or meddle (in)
Derived forms
noseless (ˈnoseless)
adjective
noselike (ˈnoseˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English nosu; related to Old Frisian nose, Norwegian nosa to smell and nus smell
nose in American English
(noʊz)
noun
1.
the part of the human face between the mouth and the eyes, having two openings and cavities behind them for breathing and smelling
2.
the part that corresponds to this in animals; snout, muzzle, etc.
3.
the sense of smell
4.
the overall smell of a wine; bouquet
5.
the power of tracking or perceiving by or as if by scent
a nose for news
6.
anything resembling a nose in shape or position; projecting or foremost part, as a nozzle, spout, prow of a ship, front of an airplane, etc.
7.
the nose regarded as a symbol of prying or meddling
to poke one's nose into another's affairs
8. Slang
a police spy or informer
verb transitiveWord forms: nosed or ˈnosing
9.
to discover or perceive by or as if by the sense of smell
10.
to touch or rub with the nose
11.
to push with the nose
with aside, open, etc.
12.
to make or push (a way, etc.) cautiously or slowly with the front forward
the ship nosed its way into the harbor
verb intransitive
13.
to smell; sniff
14.
to pry inquisitively
15.
to move cautiously or slowly with the front end forward
Idioms:
by a nose
count noses
cut off one's nose to spite one's face
follow one's nose
have one's nose out of joint
lead by the nose
look down one's nose at
nose out
nose over
on the nose
pay through the nose
put someone's nose out of joint
rub someone's nose in
turn up one's nose at
under one's (very) nose
Word origin
ME < OE nosu, akin to Ger nase, orig. a dual, meaning “the two nostrils” < IE base *nas-, nostril > Sans nāsā, the nose, lit., pair of nostrils, L nasus, nose & naris (pl. nares), nostril
More idioms containing
nose
cut off your nose to spite your face
follow your nose
get up someone's nose
give someone a bloody nose
keep your nose clean
keep your nose out of something
keep your nose to the grindstone
lead someone by the nose
look down your nose at someone or something
a nose for something
not see beyond your nose
on the nose
pay through the nose for something
poke your nose into something
put someone's nose out of joint
rub someone's nose in it
thumb your nose at someone or something
turn up your nose at something
under your nose
plain as the nose on your face
it's no skin off my nose
Examples of 'nose' in a sentence
nose
His perfect job was right under his nose all along.
The Sun (2016)
His image transformation has long given rise to rumours that he has had a nose job.
The Sun (2016)
If the company keeps its nose clean they should recover further.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
All that house dust can get right up your nose.
The Sun (2016)
The world would be a happier place if these footballers stopped rubbing our noses in their obscene wealth.
The Sun (2016)
We had to really work hard then show a bit of quality at the end to get our noses in front.
The Sun (2017)
Dec said:'We are going to rub his nose in a little bit.
The Sun (2017)
This is another clear case of how easy it is to miss something right under your nose.
O'Keeffe, John Your One Week Way to Mind-Fitness (1994)
I'VE been having problems with my nose for the past few months.
The Sun (2009)
She messed around trying to touch her nose with her tongue.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The wolf will always follow its nose.
The Sun (2014)
That has been as plain to see as the nose on your face.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When quizzed he claimed her bruises were caused by a nose job.
The Sun (2015)
In fact it gets quite a good nose job with a very aggressive double grille.
The Sun (2006)
We need to get our noses in front.
The Sun (2008)
Maisie also reached out a timid hand to stroke the horse 's nose.
Tracy Chevalier Burning Bright (2007)
We don't want people to listen to us with their noses in the air.
The Sun (2012)
Quotations
Give me a man with a good allowance of noseNapoleon Bonaparte
Word lists with
nose
parts of an aircraft, parts of an aircraft
In other languages
nose
British English: nose /nəʊz/ NOUN
Your nose is the part of your face which sticks out above your mouth. You use it for smelling and breathing.
She wiped her nose with a tissue.
American English: nose
Arabic: أَنْفٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: nariz
Chinese: 鼻
Croatian: nos
Czech: nos
Danish: næse
Dutch: neus
European Spanish: nariz
Finnish: nenä
French: nez
German: Nase
Greek: μύτη
Italian: naso
Japanese: 鼻
Korean: 코
Norwegian: nese
Polish: nos
European Portuguese: nariz
Romanian: nas
Russian: нос
Latin American Spanish: nariz
Swedish: näsa
Thai: จมูก
Turkish: burun
Ukrainian: ніс
Vietnamese: mũi
British English: nose VERB
If a vehicle noses in a certain direction or if you nose it there, you move it slowly and carefully in that direction.
He could not see the driver as the car nosed forward.
American English: nose
Brazilian Portuguese: mover-se
Chinese: 缓慢行驶
European Spanish: avanzar lentamente
French: avancer lentement
German: sich schieben
Italian: avanzare
Japanese: ゆっくり注意深く前進する
Korean: 천천히 움직이다
European Portuguese: nariz
Latin American Spanish: avanzar lentamente
Chinese translation of 'nose'
nose
(nəuz)
n(c)
(on face) 鼻子 (bízi) (个(個), gè)
(= sense of smell) 嗅觉(覺) (xiùjué)
[of aircraft]机(機)头(頭) (jītóu)
vi
to nose forward/out缓(緩)慢前行/驶(駛)出 (huǎnmàn qiánxíng/shǐchū)
just follow your nose凭(憑)本能行事 (píng běnnéng xíngshì)
to get (right) up sb's nose (Brit, inf) (真是)使某人恼(惱)怒 ((zhēn shì) shǐ mǒurén nǎonù)
to have a (good) nose for sth善于(於)觉(覺)察某事 (shànyú juéchá mǒushì)
to keep one's nose clean (inf) 洁(潔)身自好 (jié shēn zì hào)
to look down one's nose at sb/sth (inf) 小看某人/某事 (xiǎokàn mǒurén/mǒushì)
to pay through the nose (for sth) (inf) 付出过(過)高价(價)格(买(買)某物) (fùchū guo gāo jiàgé (mǎi mǒuwù))
to rub sb's nose in sth (inf) 哪壶(壺)不开(開)提哪壶(壺) (nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú)
to turn one's nose up at sth (inf) 对(對)某事不屑一顾(顧) (duì mǒushì bùxiè yī gù)
to be happening/going on under sb's nose在某人眼皮底下发(發)生/进(進)行 (zài mǒurén yǎnpí dǐxià fāshēng/jìnxíng)
to poke or stick one's nose into sth (inf) 干预(預)某事 (gānyù mǒushì)
the organ situated above the mouth, used for smelling and breathing
She had sunscreen on her nose.
Synonyms
snout
Two alligators rest their snouts on the water's surface.
bill
Its legs and feet are grey, its bill brownish-yellow.
beak (slang)
his sharp, aristocratic beak
hooter (slang)
snitch (slang)
conk (slang)
neb (archaic, dialect)
proboscis
schnozzle (slang, mainly US)
2 (noun)
Definition
instinctive skill in finding something
My mother has always had a nose for a bargain.
Synonyms
instinct
She has a strong instinct to care for others.
feeling
She has strong feelings about the growth in violence.
intuition
Her intuition was telling her that something was wrong.
sixth sense
He has a sixth sense for finding people who have good ideas.
1 (verb)
Definition
to move forward slowly and carefully
The car nosed forward out of the drive.Ben drove past them, nosing his car into the garage.
Synonyms
ease forward
push
They pushed him into the car.
edge
shove
He shoved her out of the way.
nudge
`Stop it,' he said, and nudged me in the ribs.
2 (verb)
Synonyms
nuzzle
idioms
See by a nose
See get up someone's nose
See look down your nose at something or someone
Phrasal verbs
See nose around or about
See nose something out
See poke or stick your nose into something
See turn up your nose at or turn your nose up at something or someone
related words
related adjectivesnasalrhinal
figurative note
The literal meaning of nose is the organ of smell in human beings and other animals used in the detection and tasting of food. This role, and its physical shape, have inspired a host of extended meanings and idioms. Humans are called noses if they are experts on perfume. In this case, the meaning is drawn from the most relevant body part of the person. A nose can also mean the characteristic fragrance of a wine. A human's sense of smell can provide clues at a level beyond explicit thought. Accordingly, nose can mean instinct and intuition, e.g. (have) a nose for trouble. There are many phrases involving nose, such as nose around, nose about, and nose out, all of which involve detection and investigation. However, too much nosing can lead to accusations of nosiness and poking your nose (where it doesn't belong). The physical position of the nose has led to a verbal sense of edging forward in nose your way. A nose also means a winning margin, originally from horseracing, where a close win is by a nose.
Quotation
Give me a man with a good allowance of nose [Napoleon Bonaparte]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beak
Definition
a person's nose
his sharp, aristocratic beak
Synonyms
nose,
snout,
hooter (slang),
snitch (slang),
conk (slang),
neb (archaic, dialect),
proboscis,
schnozzle (slang, US)
in the sense of bill
Definition
the projecting jaws of a bird
Its legs and feet are grey, its bill brownish-yellow.
Synonyms
beak,
nib,
neb (archaic, dialect),
mandible
in the sense of feeling
Definition
opinion or view
She has strong feelings about the growth in violence.
Synonyms
opinion,
view,
attitude,
belief,
point of view,
instinct,
inclination
Synonyms of 'nose'
nose
Explore 'nose' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intuition
Definition
instinctive knowledge of or belief about something without conscious reasoning
Her intuition was telling her that something was wrong.
Synonyms
instinct,
perception,
insight,
sixth sense,
discernment
in the sense of nudge
Definition
to push (something or someone) lightly
`Stop it,' he said, and nudged me in the ribs.
Synonyms
push,
touch,
dig,
jog,
prod,
elbow,
shove,
poke
in the sense of push
Definition
to apply steady force to in order to move
They pushed him into the car.
Synonyms
shove,
force,
press,
thrust,
drive,
knock,
sweep,
plunge,
elbow,
bump,
ram,
poke,
propel,
nudge,
prod,
jostle,
hustle,
bulldoze (informal),
impel,
manhandle
in the sense of shove
Definition
to push (one's way) roughly
He shoved her out of the way.
Synonyms
push,
shoulder,
thrust,
elbow,
drive,
press,
crowd (informal),
propel,
jostle,
impel
in the sense of sixth sense
Definition
the supposed ability of knowing something instinctively without having any evidence for it
He has a sixth sense for finding people who have good ideas.
Synonyms
intuition,
second sight,
clairvoyance,
feyness
All related terms of 'nose'
nose dive
drop, plunge, dive, plummet, sharp fall
by a nose
only just, just, hardly, barely, scarcely
nose something out
detect, smell, scent, sniff out
get up someone's nose
irritate, annoy, anger, madden, get
nose around or about
search, examine, investigate, explore, inspect
poke or stick your nose into something
pry, interfere, meddle, intrude, snoop
look down your nose at something or someone
despise, scorn, disdain, look down on, contemn
turn up your nose at or turn your nose up at something or someone