The upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains:
— He stuck his head out the window.

synonym: caput.

Roget 353: bubble, foam, froth, head, spume, lather, suds, spray, surf, yeast, barm^†, spindrift.    cloud, vapor, fog, mist, haze, steam, geyser; scud, messenger, rack, nimbus; cumulus, woolpack^†, cirrus, stratus; cirrostratus, cumulostratus; cirrocumulus; mackerel sky, mare's tale, dirty sky; curl cloud; frost smoke; thunderhead.    [Science of clouds] nephelognosy^†; nephograph^†, nephology^†.    effervescence, fermentation; bubbling etc. v.. nebula; cloudliness etc. (opacity) 426^†; nebulosity etc. (dimness) 422.    ... show more

Roget 225: clothing, investment; covering etc. 223; dress, raiment, drapery, costume, attire, guise, toilet, toilette, trim; habiliment; vesture, vestment; garment, garb, palliament^†, apparel, wardrobe, wearing apparel, clothes, things; underclothes.    array; tailoring, millinery; finery etc. (ornament) 847; full dress etc. (show) 882; garniture; theatrical properties.    outfit, equipment, trousseau; uniform, regimentals; continentals [U.S.]; canonicals etc. 999; livery, gear, harness, turn-out, accouterment, caparison, suit, rigging, trappings, traps, slops, togs, toggery^†; day wear, night wear, zoot suit; designer clothes; masquerade.    dishabille, morning dress, undress.    kimono; lungi^†; shooting-coat; mufti; rags, tatters, old clothes; mourning, weeds; duds; slippers.    robe, tunic, paletot^†, habit, gown, coat, frock, blouse, toga, smock frock, claw coat, hammer coat, Prince Albert coat^†, sack coat, tuxedo coat, frock coat, dress coat, tail coat.    cloak, pall, mantle, mantlet mantua^†, shawl, pelisse, wrapper; veil; cape, tippet, kirtle^†, plaid, muffler, comforter, haik^†, huke^†, chlamys^†, mantilla, tabard, housing, horse cloth, burnoose, burnous, roquelaure^†; houppelande [Fr.]; surcoat, overcoat, great coat; surtout [Fr.], spencer^†; mackintosh, waterproof, raincoat; ulster, P-coat, dreadnought, wraprascal^†, poncho, cardinal, pelerine^†; barbe^†, chudder^†, jubbah^†, oilskins, pajamas, pilot jacket, talma jacket^†, vest, jerkin, waistcoat, doublet, camisole, gabardine; farthingale, kilt, jupe^†, crinoline, bustle, panier, skirt, apron, pinafore; bloomer, bloomers; chaqueta^†, songtag [G.], tablier^†.    pants, trousers, trowsers^†; breeches, pantaloons, inexpressibles^†, overalls, smalls, small clothes; shintiyan^†; shorts, jockey shorts, boxer shorts; tights, drawers, panties, unmentionables; knickers, knickerbockers; philibeg^†, fillibeg^†; pants suit; culottes; jeans, blue jeans, dungarees, denims.    [brand names for jeans] Levis, Calvin Klein, Calvins, Bonjour, Gloria Vanderbilt.    headdress, headgear; chapeau [Fr.], crush hat, opera hat; kaffiyeh; sombrero, jam, tam-o-shanter, tarboosh^†, topi, sola topi [Lat.], pagri^†, puggaree^†; cap, hat, beaver hat, coonskin cap; castor, bonnet, tile, wideawake, billycock^†, wimple; nightcap, mobcap^†, skullcap; hood, coif; capote^†, calash; kerchief, snood, babushka; head, coiffure; crown etc. (circle) 247; chignon, pelt, wig, front, peruke, periwig, caftan, turban, fez, shako, csako^†, busby; kepi^†, forage cap, bearskin; baseball cap; fishing hat; helmet etc. 717; mask, domino.    body clothes; linen; hickory shirt [U.S.]; shirt, sark^†, smock, shift, chemise; night gown, negligee, dressing gown, night shirt; bedgown^†, sac de nuit [Fr.].    underclothes [underclothing], underpants, undershirt; slip [for women], brassiere, corset, stays, corsage, corset, corselet, bodice, girdle etc. (circle) 247; stomacher; petticoat, panties; under waistcoat; jock [for men], athletic supporter, jockstrap.    sweater, jersey; cardigan; turtleneck, pullover; sweater vest.    neckerchief, neckcloth^†; tie, ruff, collar, cravat, stock, handkerchief, scarf; bib, tucker; boa; cummerbund, rumal^†, rabat^†.    shoe, pump, boot, slipper, sandal, galoche^†, galoshes, patten, clog; sneakers, running shoes, hiking boots; high-low; Blucher boot, wellington boot, Hessian boot, jack boot, top boot; Balmoral^†; arctics, bootee, bootikin^†, brogan, chaparajos^†; chavar^†, chivarras^†, chivarros^†; gums [U.S.], larrigan [U.S.], rubbers, showshoe, stogy^†, veldtschoen [G.], legging, buskin, greave^†, galligaskin^†, gamache^†, gamashes^†, moccasin, gambado, gaiter, spatterdash^†, brogue, antigropelos^†; stocking, hose, gaskins^†, trunk hose, sock; hosiery.    glove, gauntlet, mitten, cuff, wristband, sleeve.    swaddling cloth, baby linen, layette; ice wool; taffeta.    pocket handkerchief, hanky^†, hankie.    clothier, tailor, milliner, costumier, sempstress^†, snip; dressmaker, habitmaker^†, breechesmaker^†, shoemaker; Crispin; friseur [Fr.]; cordwainer^†, cobbler, hosier^†, hatter; draper, linen draper, haberdasher, mercer.    [underpants for babies] diaper, nappy [Brit.]; disposable diaper, cloth diaper; [brand names for diapers], Luvs Huggies.    ... show more

Roget 372: man, mankind; human race, human species, human kind, human nature; humanity, mortality, flesh, generation.    [Science of man] anthropology, anthropogeny^†, anthropography^†, anthroposophy^†; ethnology, ethnography; humanitarian.    human being; person, personage; individual, creature, fellow creature, mortal, body, somebody; one; such a one, some one; soul, living soul; earthling; party, head, hand; dramatis personae [Lat.]; quidam [Lat.].    people, persons, folk, public, society, world; community, community at large; general public; nation, nationality; state, realm; commonweal, commonwealth; republic, body politic; million etc. (commonalty) 876; population etc. (inhabitant) 188.    tribe, clan (paternity) 166; family (consanguinity) 11.    cosmopolite; lords of the creation; ourselves.    ... show more

Roget 593: booklet; writing, work, volume, tome, opuscule^†; tract, tractate^†; livret^†; brochure, libretto, handbook, codex, manual, pamphlet, enchiridion^†, circular, publication; chap book.    part, issue, number livraison [Fr.]; album, portfolio; periodical, serial, magazine, ephemeris, annual, journal.    paper, bill, sheet, broadsheet^†; leaf, leaflet; fly leaf, page; quire, ream.    [subdivisions of a book] chapter, section, head, article, paragraph, passage, clause; endpapers, frontispiece; cover, binding.    folio, quarto, octavo; duodecimo^†, sextodecimo^†, octodecimo^†.    encyclopedia; encompilation^†.    [collection of books] library, bibliotheca^†.    press etc. (publication) 531.    [complete description] definitive work, treatise, comprehensive treatise (dissertation) 595.    [person who writes a book] writer, author, litterateur [Fr.], essayist, journalism; pen, scribbler, the scribbling race; literary hack, Grub-street writer; writer for the press, gentleman of the press, representative of the press; adjective jerker^†, diaskeaust^†, ghost, hack writer, ink slinger; publicist; reporter, penny a liner; editor, subeditor^†; playwright etc. 599; poet etc. 597.    bookseller, publisher; bibliopole^†, bibliopolist^†; librarian; bookstore, bookshop, bookseller's shop.    knowledge of books, bibliography; book learning etc. (knowledge) 490.    ... show more

Roget 75: class, division, category, categorema^†, head, order, section; department, subdepartment, province, domain.    kind, sort, genus, species, variety, family, order, kingdom, race, tribe, caste, sept, clan, breed, type, subtype, kit, sect, set, subset; assortment; feather, kidney; suit; range; gender, sex, kin.    manner, description, denomination, designation, rubric, character, stamp predicament; indication, particularization, selection, specification.    similarity etc. 17.    ... show more

Roget 210: summit, summity^†; top, peak, vertex, apex, zenith, pinnacle, acme, culmination, meridian, utmost height, ne plus utra, height, pitch, maximum, climax, culminating point, crowning point, turning point; turn of the tide, fountain head; water shed, water parting; sky, pole.    tip, tip top; crest, crow's nest, cap, truck, nib; end etc. 67; crown, brow; head, nob^†, noddle^†, pate; capsheaf^†.    high places, heights.    topgallant mast, sky scraper; quarter deck, hurricane deck.    architrave, frieze, cornice, coping stone, zoophorus^†, capital, epistyle^†, sconce, pediment, entablature^†; tympanum; ceiling etc. (covering) 223.    attic, loft, garret, house top, upper story.    [metaphorical use] summit conference, summit; peak of achievement, peak of performance; peaks and troughs, peaks and valleys (in graphs). ... show more

Roget 653: uncleanness etc. adj.; impurity; immundity^†, immundicity^†; impurity etc. 961 [of mind]. defilement, contamination etc. v.; defoedation^†; soilure^†, soiliness^†; abomination; leaven; taint, tainture^†; fetor etc. 401^†.    decay; putrescence, putrefaction; corruption; mold, must, mildew, dry rot, mucor, rubigo^†.    slovenry^†; slovenliness etc. adj.; squalor.    dowdy, drab, slut, malkin^†, slattern, sloven, slammerkin^†, slammock^†, slummock^†, scrub, draggle-tail, mudlark^†, dust-man, sweep; beast.    dirt, filth, soil, slop; dust, cobweb, flue; smoke, soot, smudge, smut, grit, grime, raff^†; sossle^†, sozzle^†.    sordes^†, dregs, grounds, lees; argol^†; sediment, settlement heeltap^†; dross, drossiness^†; mother^†, precipitate, scoriae, ashes, cinders.    recrement^†, slag; scum, froth.    hogwash; ditchwater^†, dishwater, bilgewater^†; rinsings, cheeseparings; sweepings etc. (useless refuse) 645; offscourings^†, outscourings^†; off scum; caput mortuum [Lat.], residuum, sprue, fecula [Lat.], clinker, draff^†; scurf, scurfiness^†; exuviae [Lat.], morphea; fur, furfur^†; dandruff, tartar.    riffraff; vermin, louse, flea, bug, chinch^†.    mud, mire, quagmire, alluvium, silt, sludge, slime, slush, slosh, sposh [U.S.].    spawn, offal, gurry [U.S.]; lientery^†; garbage, carrion; excreta etc. 299; slough, peccant humor, pus, matter, suppuration, lienteria^†; faeces, feces, excrement, ordure, dung, crap [Vulg.], shit [Vulg.]; sewage, sewerage; muck; coprolite; guano, manure, compost.    dunghill, colluvies^†, mixen^†, midden, bog, laystall^†, sink, privy, jakes; toilet, john, head; cess^†, cesspool; sump, sough, cloaca, latrines, drain, sewer, common sewer; Cloacina; dust hole.    sty, pigsty, lair, den, Augean stable^†, sink of corruption; slum, rookery.    ... show more

Roget 556: painting; depicting; drawing etc. v.; design; perspective, sciagraphy^†, skiagraphy^†; chiaroscuro etc. (light) 420; composition; treatment.    historical painting, portrait painting, miniature painting; landscape painting, marine painting; still life, flower painting, scene painting; scenography^†.    school, style; the grand style, high art, genre, portraiture; ornamental art etc. 847.    monochrome, polychrome; grisaille [Fr.].    pallet, palette; easel; brush, pencil, stump; black lead, charcoal, crayons, chalk, pastel; paint etc. (coloring matter) 428; watercolor, body color, oil color; oils, oil paint; varnish etc. 356.1, priming; gouache, tempera, distemper, fresco, water glass; enamel; encaustic painting; mosaic; tapestry.    photography, heliography, color photography; sun painting; graphics, computer graphics.    picture, painting, piece [Fr.], tableau, canvas; oil painting &c.; fresco, cartoon; easel picture, cabinet picture, draught, draft; pencil drawing &c., water color drawing, etching, charcoal, pen-and-ink; sketch, outline, study.    photograph, color photograph, black-and-white photograph, holograph, heliograph; daguerreotype, talbotype^†, calotype^†, heliotype^†; negative, positive; print, glossy print, matte print; enlargement, reduction, life-size print; instant photo, Polaroid photo.    technicolor, Kodachrome, Ektachrome; Polaroid.    portrait etc. (representation) 554; whole length, full length, half length; kitcat, head; miniature; shade, silhouette; profile.    landscape, seapiece^†; view, scene, prospect; panorama, diorama; still life.    picture gallery, exhibit; studio, atelier; pinacotheca^†.    ... show more

Dutch: baas, leider, op uw plaatsen, klaar, af!, hoofd, bazin
Polish: głowa

A single domestic animal.

Polish: pogłowie

That which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason:
— I couldn't get his words out of my head.

synonyms: brain, mind, nous, psyche.

Roget 450: intellect, mind, understanding, reason, thinking principle; rationality; cogitative faculties, cognitive faculties, discursive faculties, reasoning faculties, intellectual faculties; faculties, senses, consciousness, observation, percipience, intelligence, intellection, intuition, association of ideas, instinct, conception, judgment, wits, parts, capacity, intellectuality, genius; brains, cognitive powers, intellectual powers; wit etc. 498; ability etc. (skill) 698; wisdom etc. 498; Vernunft [G.], Verstand [G.].    soul, spirit, ghost, inner man, heart, breast, bosom, penetralia mentis [Lat.], divina particula aurae [Lat.], heart's core; the Absolute, psyche, subliminal consciousness, supreme principle.    brain, organ of thought, seat of thought; sensorium^†, sensory; head, headpiece; pate, noddle^†, noggin, skull, scull, pericranium [Med.], cerebrum, cranium, brainpan^†, sconce, upper story.    [in computers] [Comp.] central processing unit, CPU; arithmetic and logical unit, ALU.    [Science of mind] metaphysics; psychics, psychology; ideology; mental philosophy, moral philosophy; philosophy of the mind; pneumatology^†, phrenology; craniology [Med.], cranioscopy [Med.].    ideality, idealism; transcendentalism, spiritualism; immateriality etc. 317; universal concept, universal conception.    metaphysician, psychologist etc. ... show more

Roget 498: intelligence, capacity, comprehension, understanding; cuteness, sabe [U.S.], savvy [U.S.]; intellect etc. 450; nous [Fr.], parts, sagacity, mother wit, wit, esprit, gumption, quick parts, grasp of intellect; acuteness etc. adj.; acumen, subtlety, penetration, perspicacy^†, perspicacity; discernment, due sense of, good judgment; discrimination etc. 465; cunning etc. 702; refinement etc. (taste) 850.    head, brains, headpiece, upper story, long head; eagle eye, eagle-glance; eye of a lynx, eye of a hawk.    wisdom, sapience, sense; good sense, common sense, horse sense [U.S.], plain sense; rationality, reason; reasonableness etc. adj.; judgment; solidity, depth, profundity, caliber; enlarged views; reach of thought, compass of thought; enlargement of mind.    genius, inspiration, geist [G.], fire of genius, heaven-born genius, soul; talent etc. (aptitude) 698.    [Wisdom in action] prudence etc. 864; vigilance etc. 459; tact etc. 698; foresight etc. 510; sobriety, self-possession, aplomb, ballast.    a bright thought, not a bad idea.    Solomon-like wisdom.    ... show more

Dutch: geest, nous, denkvermogen, psyche, rede, brein
Polish: dusza, nerwy, psyche, duch, serce, duchowość, psychika

A person who is in charge:
— The head of the whole operation.

synonyms: chief, top dog.

Roget 745: master, padrone; lord, lord paramount; commander, commandant; captain; chief, chieftain; sirdar^†, sachem, sheik, head, senior, governor, ruler, dictator; leader etc. (director) 694; boss, cockarouse^†, sagamore, werowance^†.    lord of the ascendant; cock of the walk, cock of the roost; gray mare; mistress.    potentate; liege, liege lord; suzerain, sovereign, monarch, autocrat, despot, tyrant, oligarch.    crowned head, emperor, king, anointed king, majesty, imperator [Lat.], protector, president, stadholder^†, judge.    ceasar, kaiser, czar, tsar, sultan, soldan^†, grand Turk, caliph, imaum^†, shah, padishah^†, sophi^†, mogul, great mogul, khan, lama, tycoon, mikado, tenno [Jap.], inca, cazique^†; voivode^†; landamman^†; seyyid^†; Abuna^†, cacique^†, czarowitz^†, grand seignior.    prince, duke etc. (nobility) 875; archduke, doge, elector; seignior; marland^†, margrave; rajah, emir, wali, sheik nizam^†, nawab.    empress, queen, sultana, czarina, princess, infanta, duchess, margravine^†; czarevna^†, czarita^†; maharani, rani, rectrix^†.    regent, viceroy, exarch^†, palatine, khedive, hospodar^†, beglerbeg^†, three-tailed bashaw^†, pasha, bashaw^†, bey, beg, dey^†, scherif^†, tetrarch, satrap, mandarin, subahdar^†, nabob, maharajah; burgrave^†; laird etc. (proprietor) 779; collector, commissioner, deputy commissioner, woon^†.    the authorities, the powers that be, the government; staff, etat major [Fr.], aga^†, official, man in office, person in authority; sircar^†, sirkar^†, Sublime Porte.    [Military authorities] marshal, field marshal, marechal^†; general, generalissimo; commander in chief, seraskier^†, hetman^†; lieutenant general, major general; colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, centurion, skipper, lieutenant, first lieutenant, second lieutenant, sublieutenant, officer, staff officer, aide-de-camp, brigadier, brigade major, adjutant, jemidar^†, ensign, cornet, cadet, subaltern, noncommissioned officer, warrant officer; sergeant, sergeant major; color sergeant; corporal, corporal major; lance corporal, acting corporal; drum major; captain general, dizdar^†, knight marshal, naik^†, pendragon.    [Civil authorities] mayor, mayoralty; prefect, chancellor, archon, provost, magistrate, syndic; alcalde^†, alcaid^†; burgomaster, corregidor^†, seneschal, alderman, councilman, committeeman, councilwoman, warden, constable, portreeve^†; lord mayor; officer etc. (executive) 965; dewan^†, fonctionnaire [Fr.].    [Naval authorities] admiral, admiralty; rear admiral, vice admiral, port admiral; commodore, captain, commander, lieutenant, ensign, skipper, mate, master, officer of the day, OD; navarch^†.    ... show more

Dutch: bestuurder, schoolhoofd, rector, directeur, leider, chef, hoofd, ouwe
Polish: głowa, przełożony, szef, zwierzchnik

The front of a military formation or procession.

The pressure exerted by a fluid.

The top of something.

Dutch: hoofd

The source of water from which a stream arises:
— They tracked him back toward the head of the stream.

synonyms: fountainhead, headspring.

grammar The word in a grammatical constituent that plays the same grammatical role as the whole constituent.

synonym: head word.

The tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates).

The length or height based on the size of a human or animal head.

Polish: głowa

A dense cluster of flowers or foliage:
— A head of cauliflower.
— A head of lettuce.

synonym: capitulum.

Dutch: krop
Polish: koszyczek

The educator who has executive authority for a school.

synonyms: head teacher, principal, school principal.

Roget 694: director, manager, governor, rector, comptroller.    superintendent, supervisor, straw boss; intendant; overseer, overlooker^†; supercargo^†, husband, inspector, visitor, ranger, surveyor, aedile^†; moderator, monitor, taskmaster; master etc. 745; leader, ringleader, demagogue, corypheus, conductor, fugleman^†, precentor^†, bellwether, agitator; caporal^†, choregus^†, collector, file leader, flugelman^†, linkboy^†.    guiding star etc. (guidance) 693; adviser etc. 695; guide etc. (information) 527; pilot; helmsman; steersman, steermate^†; wire-puller.    driver, whip, Jehu, charioteer; coachman, carman, cabman; postilion, vetturino^†, muleteer, arriero^†, teamster; whipper in.    head, head man, head center, boss; principal, president, speaker; chair, chairman, chairwoman, chairperson; captain etc. (master) 745; superior; mayor etc. (civil authority) 745; vice president, prime minister, premier, vizier, grand vizier, eparch^†.    officer, functionary, minister, official, red-tapist^†, bureaucrat; man in office, Jack in office; office bearer; person in authority etc. 745.    statesman, strategist, legislator, lawgiver, politician, statist^†, statemonger^†; Minos, Draco; arbiter etc. (judge) 967; boss [U.S.], political dictator.    board etc. (council) 696.    secretary, secretary of state; Reis Effendi; vicar etc. (deputy) 759; steward, factor; agent etc. 758; bailiff, middleman; foreman, clerk of works; landreeve^†; factotum, major-domo^†, seneschal, housekeeper, shepherd, croupier; proctor, procurator.    ... show more

Polish: dyro

An individual person.

A user of (usually soft) drugs.

Dutch: hoofdmeester

A natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea).

synonyms: foreland, headland, promontory.

Dutch: hoek, kaap, landpunt

A rounded compact mass.

Dutch: kraag, manchet, schuimkraag
Polish: głowa

The foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container.

The part in the front or nearest the viewer:
— He was at the head of the column.

synonym: forefront.

Dutch: kop

A difficult juncture:
— Matters came to a head yesterday.

synonyms: pass, straits.

Forward movement:
— The ship made little headway against the gale.

synonym: headway.

A V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer.

synonym: point.

Roget 454: subject of thought, material for thought; food for the mind, mental pabulum.    subject, subject matter; matter, theme, noemata [Gr.], topic, what it is about, thesis, text, business, affair, matter in hand, argument; motion, resolution; head, chapter; case, point; proposition, theorem; field of inquiry; moot point, problem etc. (question) 461.    ... show more

The subject matter at issue:
— Under the head of minor Roman poets.

synonym: question.

Dutch: kwestie, probleem, vraag, vraagstuk
Polish: kwestia

A line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about:
— The heading seemed to have little to do with the text.

synonyms: header, heading.

Roget 66: beginning, commencement, opening, outset, incipience, inception, inchoation^†; introduction etc. (precursor) 64; alpha, initial; inauguration, debut, le premier pas, embarcation [Fr.], rising of the curtain; maiden speech; outbreak, onset, brunt; initiative, move, first move; narrow end of the wedge, thin end of the wedge; fresh start, new departure.    origin etc. (cause) 153; source, rise; bud, germ etc. 153; egg, rudiment; genesis, primogenesis^†, birth, nativity, cradle, infancy; start, inception, creation, starting point etc. 293; dawn etc. (morning) 125; evolution.    title-page; head, heading; van etc. (front) 234; caption, fatihah^†.    entrance, entry; inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch, portal, portico, propylon^†, door; gate, gateway; postern, wicket, threshold, vestibule; propylaeum^†; skirts, border etc. (edge) 231.    first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first sight.    rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, ABC.    ... show more

Dutch: hoofdje, kop, opschrift, tas
Polish: tytuł

The rounded end of a bone that fits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint.

That part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves.

computer science A tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk.

synonym: read/write head.

usually plural The obverse side of a coin that usually bears the representation of a person's head.

The striking part of a tool.

Polish: obuch

nautical A toilet on board a boat or ship.

Polish: kingston

A projection out from one end.

Dutch: kop

A membrane that is stretched taut over a drum.

synonym: drumhead.

Dutch: trommelvel
Polish: membrana

Oral stimulation of the genitals:
— They say he gives good head.

synonym: oral sex.

Dutch: orale seks
Polish: seks oralny, miłość francuska

To go or travel towards.

Roget 280: go before, go ahead, go in the van, go in advance; precede, forerun; usher in, introduce, herald, head, take the lead; lead the way, lead the dance; get the start, have the start; steal a march; get before, get ahead, get in front of; outstrip etc. 303; take precedence etc. (first in order) 62.    ... show more

Roget 66: begin, start, commence; conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter; set out etc. (depart) 293; embark in; incept^†.    initiate, launch, inaugurate.    inchoate, rise, arise, originate.    usher in; lead off, lead the way; take the lead, take the initiative; head; stand at the head, stand first, stand for; lay the foundations etc. (prepare) 673; found etc. (cause) 153; set up, set on foot, agoing^†, set abroach^†, set the ball in motion; apply the match to a train; broach; open up, open the door to.    get underway, set about, get to work, set to work, set to; make a beginning, make a start.    handsel; take the first step, lay the first stone, cut the first turf; break ground, break the ice, break cover; pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon; open fire, open the ball; ventilate, air; undertake etc. 676.    come into existence, come into the world; make one's debut, take birth; burst forth, break out; spring up, spring forth, crop up, pop up, appear, materialize.    begin at the beginning, begin ab ovo [Lat.].    begin again, begin de novo; start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence.    ... show more

Be in charge of:
— Who is heading this project?.

synonym: lead.

Dutch: aanvoeren, leiden

Travel in front of; go in advance of others:
— The procession was headed by John.

synonym: lead.

Roget 62: precede; come before, come first; head, lead, take the lead; lead the way, lead the dance; be in the vanguard; introduce, usher in; have the pas; set the fashion etc. (influence) 175; open the ball; take precedence, have precedence; have the start etc. (get before) 280.    place before; prefix; premise, prelude, preface.    ... show more

Be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel:
— This student heads the class.

synonym: head up.

Dutch: kop op

Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling.

synonyms: channelise, channelize, direct, guide, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, point, steer.

Take its rise.

Be in the front of or on top of.

Form a head or come or grow to a head.

Remove the head of.