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horn  (hôrn)
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Tweet n. 1. One of the hard, usually permanent structures projecting from the head of certain mammals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes, consisting of a bony core covered with a sheath of keratinous material. 2. A hard protuberance, such as an antler or projection on the head of a giraffe or rhinoceros, that is similar to or suggestive of a horn. 3. a. The hard smooth keratinous material forming the outer covering of the horns of cattle or related animals. b. A natural or synthetic substance resembling this material. 4. A container, such as a powder horn, made from a horn. 5. Something having the shape of a horn, especially: a. A horn of plenty; a cornucopia. b. Either of the ends of a new moon. c. The point of an anvil. d. The pommel of a saddle. e. An ear trumpet. f. A device for projecting sound waves, as in a loudspeaker. g. A hollow, metallic electromagnetic transmission antenna with a circular or rectangular cross section. 6. Music a. A wind instrument made of an animal horn. b. A brass instrument, such as a trombone or tuba. c. A French horn. d. A wind instrument, such as a trumpet or saxophone, used in a jazz band. 7. a. A usually electrical signaling device that produces a loud resonant sound:an automobile horn. b. Any of various noisemakers operated by blowing or by squeezing a hollow rubber ball. 8. Slang A telephone. intr.v.horned, horn·ing, horns Idioms: To join without being invited; intrude. Used with in. blow/toot(one's) own hornInformal To brag or boast about oneself. draw/haul/pullin (one's) hornsInformal 1. To restrain oneself; draw back. 2. To retreat from a previously taken position, view, or stance. 3. To economize. on the horns of a dilemma Faced with two equally undesirable alternatives. [Middle English, fromOld English; see ker-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] hornadj. hornistn.  (click for a larger image) horntop: white rhinoceros and bighorn sheep bottom:western saddle  (click for a larger image) horn |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
