To head off

To head off
Head Head (h[e^]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Headed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Heading}.] 1. To be at the head of; to put one's self at the head of; to lead; to direct; to act as leader to; as, to head an army, an expedition, or a riot. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head; as, to head a nail. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

3. To behead; to decapitate. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. To cut off the top of; to lop off; as, to head trees. [1913 Webster]

5. To go in front of; to get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose; hence, to check or restrain; as, to head a drove of cattle; to head a person; the wind heads a ship. [1913 Webster]

6. To set on the head; as, to head a cask. [1913 Webster]

{To head off}, to intercept; to get before; as, an officer heads off a thief who is escaping. ``We'll head them off at the pass.''

{To head up}, (a) to close, as a cask or barrel, by fitting a head to. (b) To serve as the leader of; as, to head up a team of investigators. [1913 Webster +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Head Off — álbum de versiones de The Hellacopters Publicación 30 de marzo de 2008 …   Wikipedia Español

  • head off something — head off (something) to avoid something bad by doing something now. The UN Security Council is hoping to head off further violence. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of head someone or something off (= to stop the movement of people or… …   New idioms dictionary

  • head off — (something) to avoid something bad by doing something now. The UN Security Council is hoping to head off further violence. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of head someone or something off (= to stop the movement of people or animals by… …   New idioms dictionary

  • head off to somewhere — head off to (somewhere) to go somewhere. While Marianne heads off to work each morning, Keith takes care of the kids …   New idioms dictionary

  • head off to — (somewhere) to go somewhere. While Marianne heads off to work each morning, Keith takes care of the kids …   New idioms dictionary

  • head off — index avert, check (restrain) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • head off — verb prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening (Freq. 3) Let s avoid a confrontation head off a confrontation avert a strike • Syn: ↑debar, ↑forefend, ↑forfend, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • head off — phrasal verb Word forms head off : present tense I/you/we/they head off he/she/it heads off present participle heading off past tense headed off past participle headed off 1) [transitive] to prevent something from taking place The police acted… …   English dictionary

  • Head Off — Infobox Album | Name = Head Off Type = Album Artist = The Hellacopters Released = April 18, 2008 Recorded = 2007 Genre = Garage Rock Length = Label = Wild Kingdom Backstage Alliance Toy s Factory Producer = Chips K. Reviews = *Allmusic rating|2|5 …   Wikipedia

  • head off — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you head off a person, animal, or vehicle, you move to a place in front of them in order to capture them or make them change the direction they are moving in. [V n P] He changed direction swiftly, turned into the hallway and… …   English dictionary

  • head off — verb a) To begin moving away. (We will head off on our holidays tomorrow) b) To intercept. The cavalry will head off the bandits at the pass. Syn: cut off …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”