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.

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