one of the bony, permanent, hollow paired growths, often curved and pointed, that project from the upper part of the head of certain hooved mammals, as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes.
a similar growth, sometimes of hair, as the median horn or horns on the snout of the rhinoceros, or the tusk of the narwhal.
antler.
a process projecting from the head of an animal and suggestive of such a growth, as a feeler, tentacle, or crest.
the bony substance of which such animal growths are composed.
any similar substance, as that forming tortoise shell, hoofs, nails, or corns.
an article made of the material of an animal horn or like substance, as a thimble, spoon, or shoehorn.
any projection or extremity resembling the horn of an animal.
something resembling or suggesting an animal horn: a drinking horn.
a part resembling an animal horn attributed to deities, demons, etc.: the devil's horn.
Usually horns.the imaginary projections on a cuckold's brow.
Music.
a wind instrument, originally formed from the hollow horn of an animal but now usually made of brass or other metal or plastic.
French horn.
something used as or resembling such a wind instrument.
Slang. a trumpet.
an instrument for sounding a warning signal: an automobile horn.
Aeronautics. any of certain short, armlike levers on the control surfaces of an airplane.
Radio.
a tube of varying cross section used in some loudspeakers to couple the diaphragm to the sound-transmitting space.
Slang.a loudspeaker.
Slang. a telephone or radiotelephone: I've been on the horn all morning.
the high protuberant part at the front and top of certain saddles; a pommel, especially a high one.
Carpentry. (in a door or window frame) that part of a jamb extending above the head.
one of the curved extremities of a crescent, especially of the crescent moon.
a crescent-shaped tract of land.
a pyramidal mountain peak, especially one having concave faces carved by glaciation.
a symbol of power or strength, as in the Bible: a horn of salvation.
each of the alternatives of a dilemma.
the narrow, more pointed part of an anvil.
ear tuft.
Metalworking. a projection at the side of the end of a rolled sheet or strip, caused by unevenness of the roll due to wear.
Horology. (in a lever escapement) either of the two prongs at the end of the lever fork guarding against overbanking when the guard pin is in the crescent.
verb (used with object)
to cuckold.
to butt or gore with the horns.
Shipbuilding. to set up (a frame or bulkhead of a vessel being built) at a proper angle to the keel with due regard to the inclination of the keel on the ways; plumb.
adjective
made of horn.
Idioms for horn
blow / toot one's own horn, Informal. to publicize or boast about one's abilities or achievements: He's a bright fellow, but likes to blow his own horn too much.
draw / pull in one's horns, to restrain oneself or become less belligerent; retreat: Since he lost so much gambling, he's drawn in his horns a bit.
horn in, Informal. to thrust oneself forward obtrusively; intrude or interrupt: Every time we try to have a private conversation, the boss horns in.
lock horns, to conflict, quarrel, or disagree: The administration and the staff locked horns over the proposed measures.
on the horns of a dilemma, confronted with two equally disagreeable choices.
Origin of horn
First recorded before 900; Middle English horn(e) (noun), Old English horn; cognate with Dutch horen, Old Norse, Danish, Swedish horn, German Horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu “horn,” Irish, Welsh corn; akin to Greek kéras “horn” (see cerat-); see also cornu
Another car behind it in line was behaving “obnoxiously,” honking its horn and blasting music, he said.
Those Ticketed for Seditious Language Say Their Only Crime Was Talking Back|Kate Nucci|September 9, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Carolina Garcia, 35, director of original series at NetflixMy parents always say, “Toma el toro por las astas,” which means, “Grab the bull by the horns.”
The advice that helped this year’s 40 under 40 find their own path|kdunn6|September 3, 2020|Fortune
He took pictures of the lizard and measured the size and shape of its body parts, such as the length of its nose-horn and head.
A nose-horned dragon lizard lost to science for over 100 years has been found|Dyna Rochmyaningsih|June 9, 2020|Science News
To transform a horse into a unicorn, you could try adding a horn from a related animal, Paul Knoepfler says.
What would it take to make a unicorn?|Carolyn Wilke|March 4, 2020|Science News For Students
Researchers have found certain genes that are turned off or on when animals are growing their horns.
What would it take to make a unicorn?|Carolyn Wilke|March 4, 2020|Science News For Students
So I asked the driver to honk the horn, which he does, and Rod looks over.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A car parked at a red light honked its horn in rhythm with the chant as the crowd passed in front of it.
‘They Let Him Off?’ Scenes from NYC in Disbelief|Jacob Siegel|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As cars approached a group of about 20 men and women, a cry went out: “Honk your horn!”
Ferguson Protesters Harass Black Police, Call for Darren Wilson’s Death|Justin Glawe|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His multinote improvisations were so thick and complex they were almost flowing out of the horn by themselves.
The Stacks: John Coltrane’s Mighty Musical Quest|Nat Hentoff|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the Horn of Africa, the U.S. military has long eschewed the use of drones in favor of manned aircraft for operational reasons.
Why Drones Don’t Cut It in Syria|Robert Caruso|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He conveys the news of death, and has as the insignia of office a horn, called thuththari or singam.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Edgar Thurston
As another example, he gave directions for preparing essence of hartshorn—prepared, literally, from the horn itself.
Medical Investigation in Seventeenth Century England|Charles W. Bodemer
The horn sounded a few cheerful notes, and the coach was gone.
Oliver Twist, Vol. III (of 3)|Charles Dickens
Another very neat Horn Book with the Horn in front, hence its name, is also on view.
Banbury Chap Books|Edwin Pearson
The question to be decided was, should they wait for Captain Horn?
Mrs. Cliff's Yacht|Frank R. Stockton
British Dictionary definitions for horn (1 of 2)
horn
/ (hɔːn) /
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 keratinRelated adjectives: corneous, keratoid
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 substitutea 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 valvesSee hunting horn, French horn, cor anglais
jazzslangany 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
Also called: 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 horn, exponential 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
Britishslangan erection of the penis
Biblea symbol of power, victory, or successin my name shall his horn be exalted
blow one's hornUS and Canadianto boast about oneself; bragBrit equivalent: blow one's own trumpet
draw in one's hornsorpull in one's horns
to suppress or control one's feelings, esp of anger, enthusiasm, or passion
to withdraw a previous statement
to economize
on the horns of a dilemma
in a situation involving a choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
in an awkward situation
verb(tr)
to provide with a horn or horns
to gore or butt with a horn
See also horn in
Derived forms of horn
hornless, adjectivehornlike, adjective
Word Origin for horn
Old English; related to Old Norse horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu horn
One of the hard, usually permanent structures projecting from the head of certain mammals, such as cattle, consisting of a bony core covered with a sheath of keratinous material.
A hard protuberance that is similar to or suggestive of a horn.
The hard, smooth keratinous material forming the outer covering of animal horns.
Any of the major subdivisions of the lateral ventricle in the cerebral hemisphere of the brain: the frontal horn, occipital horn, and temporal horn.cornu
Either of the bony growths projecting from the upper part of the head of certain hoofed mammals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. The horns of these animals are never shed, and they consist of bone covered by keratin.
A hard growth that looks like a horn, such as an antler or a growth on the head of a giraffe or rhinoceros. Unlike true horns, antlers are shed yearly and have a velvety covering, and the horns of a rhinoceros are made not of bone but of hairy skin fused with keratin.
The hard durable substance that forms the outer covering of true horns. It consists of keratin.