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Definition: Head |
HeadAdjective1. (of persons) highest in rank or authority or office; "his arch rival"; "the boss man"; "the chief executive"; "head librarian"; "top administrators". 2. (grammar) of a word in a phrase; the word playing the same grammatical role in the sentence that the phrase itself plays; "the head noun in the phrase `fresh fish' is `fish,' which is the direct object in the sentence `I bought fresh fish'". Noun1. The upper or front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains; "he stuck his head out the window". 2. A single domestic animal: "200 head of cattle". 3. That which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason; "his mind wandered"; "I couldn't get his words out of my head". 4. A person who is in charge; "the head of the whole operation". 5. The front of a military formation or procession; "the head of the column advanced boldly"; "they were at the head of the attack". 6. The pressure exerted by a fluid; "a head of steam". 7. The top of something; "the head of the stairs"; "the head of the page"; "the head of the list". 8. The source of water from which a stream arises; "they tracked him back toward the head of the stream". 9. (linguistics) the word in a grammatical constituent that plays the same grammatical role as the whole constituent. 10. : the tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates). 11. : the length or height based on the size of a human or animal head; "he is two heads taller than his little sister"; "his horse won by a head". 12. : a dense clusters of flowers or foliage: "a head of cauliflower"; "a head of lettuce". 13. : the educator who has executive authority for a school; "she sent unruly pupils to see the principal". 14. : an individual person; "tickets are $5 per head". 15. : (informal) a user of (usually soft) drugs; "the office was full of secret heads". 16. : a rounded compact mass; "the head of a comet". 17. : the foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container; "the beer had a large head of foam". 18. : the part in the front or nearest the viewer; "he was in the forefront"; "he was at the head of the column". 19. : a difficult juncture; "a pretty pass"; "matters came to a head yesterday". 20. : forward movement; "the ship made little headway against the gale". 21. : a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer; "the point of the arrow was due north". 22. : the subject matter at issue; "the question of disease merits serious discussion"; "under the head of minor Roman poets". 23. : 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". 24. : the rounded end of a bone that bits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint; "the head of the humerus". 25. : that part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves. 26. : (computer science) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk. 27. : (usually plural) an obverse side of a coin that bears the representation of a person's head; "call heads or tails!". 28. : the striking part of a tool; "the head of the hammer". 29. : a toilet on board a boat or ship. 30. : a projection out from one end; "the head of the nail", "a pinhead is the head of a pin". 31. : a membrane that is stretched taut over a drum. 32. : oral-genital stimulation; "they say he gives good head". Verb1. To go or travel towards: "where is she heading"; "We were headed for the mountains". 2. Be in charge of; "Who is heading this project?". 3. Travel in front of; go in advance of others: "The procession was headed by John". 4. Be the first or leading member of (a group). 5. Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling. 6. Be in the front of or on top of; "The list was headed by the name of the president". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "head" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references) |
Etymology: Head \Head\, noun. [Old English hed, heved, heaved, Anglo-Saxon he['a]fod; akin to Dutch hoofd, Old High German houbit, German haupt, Icelandic, Swedish hufvud, Danish hoved, Gothic haubip. The word does not corresponds regularly to Latin caput head (compare to English Chief, Cadet, Capital), and its origin. . (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Satire | HEAD-:MONEY:, n. A capitation tax, or poll-tax. In ancient times there lived a king Whose tax-collectors could not wring From all his subjects gold enough To make the royal way less rough. For pleasure's highway, like the dames Whose premises adjoin it, claims Perpetual repairing. So The tax-collectors in a row Appeared before the throne to pray Their master to devise some way To swell the revenue. "So great," Said they, "are the demands of state A tithe of all that we collect Will scarcely meet them. Pray reflect: How, if one-tenth we must resign, Can we exist on t'other nine?" The monarch asked them in reply: "Has it occurred to you to try The advantage of economy?" "It has," the spokesman said: "we sold All of our gray garrotes of gold; With plated-ware we now compress The necks of those whom we assess. Plain iron forceps we employ To mitigate the miser's joy Who hoards, with greed that never tires, That which your Majesty requires." Deep lines of thought were seen to plow Their way across the royal brow. "Your state is desperate, no question; Pray favor me with a suggestion." "O King of Men," the spokesman said, "If you'll impose upon each head A tax, the augmented revenue We'll cheerfully divide with you." As flashes of the sun illume The parted storm-cloud's sullen gloom, The king smiled grimly. "I decree That it be so -- and, not to be In generosity outdone, Declare you, each and every one, Exempted from the operation Of this new law of capitation. But lest the people censure me Because they're bound and you are free, 'Twere well some clever scheme were laid By you this poll-tax to evade. I'll leave you now while you confer With my most trusted minister." The monarch from the throne-room walked And straightway in among them stalked A silent man, with brow concealed, Bare-armed -- his gleaming axe revealed! G.J. Source: Devil's Dictionary. |
Building & Civil Engineering | Horizontal member in a door in which the muntins are assembled. Source: European Union. (references) |
Computing | An electromagnet that can perform one or more functions of reading, writing and erasing data on a magnetic data medium. Source: European Union. (references) |
Dream Interpretation | To see a person's head in your dream, and it is well-shaped and prominent, you will meet persons of power and vast influence who will lend you aid in enterprises of importance. If you dream of your own head, you are threatened with nervous or brain trouble. To see a head severed from its trunk, and bloody, you will meet sickening disappointments, and the overthrow of your dearest hopes and anticipations. To see yourself with two or more heads, foretells phenomenal and rapid rise in life, but the probabilities are that the rise will not be stable. To dream that your head aches, denotes that you will be oppressed with worry. To dream of a swollen head, you will have more good than bad in your life. To dream of a child's head, there will be much pleasure ill store for you and signal financial success. To dream of the head of a beast, denotes that the nature of your desires will run on a low plane, and only material pleasures will concern you. To wash your head, you will be sought after by prominent people for your judgment and good counsel. Source: Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted .... |
Energy | A unit of pressure for a fluid, commonly used in water pumping and hydro power to express height a pump must lift water, or the distance water falls. Total head accounts for friction head losses, etc. (references) |
Food & Agriculture | A)any piece(s)of timber from which the head of a barrel, cask, keg, etc. is cut; b)also such pieces when cut and assembled to form the head. Source: European Union. (references) |
Geography | A precipitous cape or promontory. Source: European Union. (references) |
| The nucleus and coma together form the --. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Hydrologic | The difference between the pool height and tailwater height. Usually expressed in feet of head, or in lbs./sq. inch. (references) |
Labor | Applied to a worker who takes head in a construction or labouring crew and is selected to expedite the work of the crew. . . Regularly performs all duties of workers of his crew. Source: European Union. (references) |
Language | In the case of a subordinative endocentric construction:that constituent which is syntactically equivalent to the whole construction. Source: European Union. (references) |
Literature | Head (Latin, caput; Saxon, hedfod; Scotch, hafet; contracted into head.) Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a horse. Better be foremost amongst commoners than the lowest of the aristocracy; better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry. The Italians say, "E meglio esser testa di luccio che coda di sturione. " He has a head on his shoulders. He is up to snuff (q.v.); he is a clever fellow, with brains in his head. He has quite lost his head. He is in a quandary or quite confused. I can make neither head nor tail of it. I cannot understand it at all. A gambling phrase. Men with héads beneath the shoulders. (See Caora.) Men without heads. (See Blemmyes.) Off one's head. Deranged; delirious; extremely excited. Here "head" means intelligence, understanding, etc. His intelligence or understanding has gone away. To bundle one out head and heels. "Sans cérémonie, " altogether. The allusion is to a custom at one time far too frequent in cottages, for a whole family to sleep together in one bed head to heels or pednamene, as it was termed in Cornwall; to bundle the whole lot out of bed was to turn them out head and heels. To head off. To intercept. To hit the nail on the head. You have guessed aright; you have done the right thing. The allusion is obvious. The French say, "Vous avez frappé au but " (You have hit the mark); the Italians have the phrase, "Havete dato in brocca " (You have hit the pitcher), alluding to a game where a pitcher stood in the place of Aunt Sally (q.v.). The Latin, "Rem acu tetigisti " (You have touched the thing with a needle), refers to the custom of probing sores. To keep one's head above water. To avoid bankruptcy. The allusion is to a person immersed in water; so long as his head is above water his life remains, but bad swimmers find it hard to keep their heads above water. To lose one's head. To be confused and middle-minded. To make head. To get on. Source: Brewer's Dictionary. |
Math | The first item of a list. (references) |
Mechanical Engineering | A tool-carrying device of the type of a saddle and toolhead, but without the saddle. Source: European Union. (references) |
Metallurgy | A rounded refractory shape, providing a valve head seating into a nozzle brick, this assembly forming a metal flow control for bottom-pouring ladles. Source: European Union. (references) |
Mining | A. Any road, level, or other passage driven in coal, etc., for the purpose of proving and working the mine. b. The top portion of a seam in the coal face c. The whole falling unit in a stamp battery, or merely the weight at the end of the stem d. The top end of the boring rods above the surface. e. Core-barrel head. f. In gravity separation of a feed, the heads are the concentrates. Opposite of tail g. Variously used as a syn. for core-barrel head; drill head; swivel head h. The attitude or direction in a massive crystalline rock along which fracture is most difficult. It is normal to the grain and rift. i. The difference in air pressure producing ventilation j. In mineral processing, the mill head, or grade of ore, accepted by the mill for treatment. Commonly used in the plural. k. The height of water above any point or plane of reference. Used also in various compounds, such as energy head, entrance head, friction head, static head, pressure head, lost head, etc. (references) |
Multilingual Slang | Catalan (coco, tarro). (references) |
Occupations | Part of bicycle frame that holds crank and sprocket assembly. (references) |
Physics | Height of a column or body of fluid above a datum expressed in linear terms, often used to express gauge pressure. Source: European Union. (references) |
Post & Telecom | Any device used to obtain information about environment;. Source: European Union. (references) |
Public Administration | Teacher who is the academic and executive head of a school. The US equivalent is principal. Source: European Union. (references) |
| The portion of a fire edge which shows the greatest rate of spread, i. e. generally to windward or up-slope. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Publishing & Graphic Arts | The words, phrases or sentence heading a chapter of a document or another single part of a document as an article, etc. Source: European Union. (references) |
Slang | Noun. Source: Unclear. Definition: The bathroom. Context: Used by one salior to another. Social Source: United State's Navy. Source: Compiled by The University of Oregon. (additional references) |
Transportation | The heavy top part of the rail, on which the wheels of cars and engines run is called the --. Source: European Union. (references) |
| The direction in which the longitudinal axis of an aircraft is pointed, usually expressed in degrees from North (true, magnetic, compass or grid). Source: European Union. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A drumhead is a membrane stretched over one or both of the open ends of a drum. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands so that it vibrates and the sound resonates through the drum.Originally, drumheads were made from animal skin. In 1957, Remo Belli began manufacturing drumheads made from Mylar. These plastic drumheads are cheaper, more durable, and less sensitive to weather than animal skin heads, so they are used by a great majority of drummers. Despite the benefits of plastic heads, many timpanists and orchestral percussionists prefer animal (typically calf) skin heads because they tend to produce a warmer, more pleasant sound. Drummers in historical reenactment groups such as fife and drum corps also use animal skin heads for historical accuracy. Skin heads are used on most hand drums, including djembes and congas.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Drumhead."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
The head of an animal is the anterior part that bears the mouth, the brain and various sensory organs (e.g. organs of sight, hearing, smell and taste). The very simplest animals do not have a head, but most bilaterally symmetric forms do. In vertebrates the contents of the head are protected by an enclosure of bone called the skull, which is attached to the spine.
Head is often a part of a title of office, meaning "the highest". A "head of department" is thus the person with the highest standing in said department. This use might stem from the fact that the head is the highest placed part of the human body, or from the fact that the brain and therefore cognitive functions and decision making is located in the head.
Some dictionaries define close to thirty meanings to the word. However, most of the usages are associated with the connotation of forward, top, essential, control etc. which are derived from attributes of an animal head (or brain). Perhaps the only exception is the latrine of a marine vessel which is also called the head.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Head."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
head is a program that shows the first 10 lines by default of a file or pipedd data, on Unix and Unix-like systems.It is useful when a file's contents need to be checked, but the whole file does not need to be viewed.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Head (Unix)."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A head of state is the chief public representative of a nation-state, federation or commonwealth, whose role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising powers, functions and duties granted to the head of state in the country's constitution. In Charles de Gaulle's words, describing the role he envisaged for the French president when he wrote the modern French constitution, a head of state should embody "the spirit of the nation" to the nation itself and to the world: une certaine idée de la France.
In a monarchy, the monarch is the head of state. In a republic, the head of state is usually called president, though some leaders have assumed other titles (some used "Head of State" as their only formal title).
Roles of a Head of State
In practical terms, heads of state fulfil a number of criteria;
Patrice MacMahon, duc de Magenta
President of the Third French Republic (1875-1879)
controversially dissolved parliament in 1877.
Example: under the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany (constitution), Article 59 (1) states -
- Chief Diplomatic Officer:
- He or she accredits his or her country's ambassadors, though sending formal Letters of Credence to other heads of state. Without that accreditation, ipso facto an ambassador does not take up a role and receive diplomatic status.
- He or she receives\ Letters of Credence, sent by other heads of state accrediting his/her ambassador to the state.
- He or she signs international treaties on behalf of the state, or has them signed in his/her name by ministers.
- The Federal President shall represent the Federation in its international relations. He shall conclude treaties with foreign states on behalf of the Federation. He shall accredit and receive envoys.
- Chief Appointments Officer:
- He or she appoints all the key officials in the state, including members of the cabinet, the prime minister (if there is one), key judicial figures and all major office holders. Some countries have exceptions - under Article 4 of the Instrument of Government 1974, the constitution of Sweden grants to the parliamentary speaker the role of formally appointing the Prime Minister. In practice parliamentary numbers may make the decision a formality. The last time a United Kingdom monarch actually had a choice over who to pick to be prime minister occurred in 1963, when Queen Elizabeth II had to choose a successor to Harold Macmillan.
- He or she may dismiss office-holders. In most states, this may only be done on the binding advice of another office-holder (Example: Irish ministers can be dismissed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Taoiseach (prime minister)). In some instances, the head of state may be able to dismiss an office holder themselves. An example is the ability of the President of the Fifth French Republic to replace his Prime Minister at will. Many heads of state or their representatives have the theoretical power to dismiss any office-holder but it is exceptionally rarely used. In one controversial case, the Governor-General of Australia, Sir John Kerr in 1975 dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam over a parliamentary deadlock that had resulted in Whitlam's government losing Supply (ie, access to exchequer funds), but which had not been followed by the standard request for a parliamentary dissolution. (Because it was the upper house not the lower house that blocked Supply, Whitlam controversially believed that he did not have to request an immediate dissolution.)
George Washington
1st President of the United States
(1789-1797)Chief Executive Officer: In the vast majority of states, whether republics or monarchies, executive authority (ie, the source of governmental power) is vested in the head of state. Even in parliamentary systems where governments are directly answerable to parliament, governments may still in theory exercise powers via the head of state, producing such terms as Her Majesty's Government or His Excellency's Government. Examples are found in, among other states, Australia, Austria, Canada Denmark, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The few exceptions include Republic of Ireland and Sweden.
- Example No 1. (Victorian era monarchical constitution): Under Chapter II, Section 61 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 1900
- The executive power of the Commonwealth is vested in the Queen and is exercisable by the Governor-General of the Queen's representative, and extends to the execution and maintenance of this Constitution, and the laws of the Commonwealth.
- Example No 2. (mid 20th century monarchical constitution): According to Section 12 of the Constitution of Denmark 1953,
- Subject to the limitations laid down in this Constitution Act the King shall have the supreme authority in all the affairs of the Realm, and he shall exercise such supreme authority through the Ministers.
- Example No 3. (modern republican constitution): According to Article 26 (2) of the 1975 Constitution of Greece
- The executive power shall be exercised by the President of the Republic and by the government.
Example: Article 13.2.2. of the Constitution of Ireland states:
- Summon and Dissolve Parliament:
- A head of state is often empowered to summon and dissolve parliaments. In most parliamentary systems, that is done on the advice of the prime minister or cabinet. In some parliamentary systems and in some presidential systems, the head of state may on their own initiative do so. Some states however have fixed term parliaments, with no option of bringing forward elections. Other systems have fixed terms, but the chief of state retains the authority to dissolve the legislature in certain circumstances (Article II, Section 3, of the United States Constitution). Where a prime minister has lost the confidence of parliament, some states allow the head of state to refuse a parliamentary dissolution, where one is requested, forcing the prime minister's resignation.
- The President may in absolute discretion refuse to dissolve Dáil Éireann on the advice of a Taoiseach [prime minister] who has ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann
The Federal Council of Switzerland
The seven-member collective Head of State of Switzerland (2002-present)Example: Section 11.a.1. of the Basic Laws of Israel states:
- Sign Bills into Law: Most states require that all Bills passed by parliament are signed into law by the Head of State, who by their signature indicates that the Bill was passed in accordance with the correct procedures. This act is formally known as promulgation. Some Commonwealth of Nations states call this procedure granting the Royal Assent.
- The President of the State shall sign every Law, other than a Law relating to its powers.
- Delay or oppose the passage of a bill:Some states allow a head of state some participative role, in so far as they may be empowered to do one or more of the following:
- veto a Bill (example: The President of the United States can refuse to sign acts of congress into law when he disagrees with them)
- reserve the Bill to be signed later, or suspend it indefinitely (generally in states with the Royal Prerogative, though it rarely is used)
- send the Bill to the courts to test its constitutionality (example: the Republic of Ireland)
- put the Bill to the people in a referendum (example: the Republic of Ireland, if the President is petitioned to do so by one third of the lower house and a majority of the upper house.)
The Head of State and the Government
In Presidential systems or in absolute monarchies, a head of state is normally not merely head of state but the active'' chief executive officer of the government. The principal example of this is the United States.
Emperor Napoleon III
President of the Second French Republic (1848-1852)
''made himself Emperor of France (1852-70)In parliamentary systems, though the head of state may be the nominal chief executive officer of the state, in reality powers are usually exercised by a cabinet, presided over by a Prime Minister who is answerable to parliament. However, exceptions exist even to this; for instance, in some times of exceptional crisis during the 20th century (typically German invasions), the then King of the Belgians has exercised this capacity directly; this shows that such a direct capacity had and may still have a latent existence there, and so possibly elsewhere as well. Most recently, Liechtenstein gave its Prince unprecedented constitutional powers in 2003, including veto of parliament and power to dismiss the government at whim.
In some semi-presidential systems, a president may be an active player in government, with the government answerable in practice both to the head of state and parliament. The most striking example is the current Fifth French Republic. In the French case, where parliament is controlled by the party which the President belonged to, the President is usually the dominant political player in government. Where, however, the 'opposition' to the President control parliament, given that the government is answerable to parliament, the President has little choice but to share power with an 'opposition' government. When this occurs, it is called Cohabitation. In practice, the government controls the internal policy agenda, with the President limiting his role to foreign affairs, subject to the government.
Symbolic role
As the above quote by Charles de Gaulle indicates, one of the most important roles of the modern head of state is being a symbolic national symbol of the nation.In most countries portraits of the head of state can be found in government offices, airports, libraries, and other buildings of the sort. The idea is to use these portraits to make the public aware of the symbolic connection to the government, a practice that dates back to mediaeval times. Sometimes this practice is taken to excess, and the head of state begins to believe that he is the only symbol of the nation. A personality cult thus ensues, where the image of the head of state is the only visual representation of the country, surpassing other symbols such as the flag, constitution, founding fathers, etc.
In diplomatic affairs, heads of state are often the first person to greet an important foreign visitor. They may also assume a sort of informal "host" role during the VIP's visit, inviting the vistor to a state dinner at his or her mansion or palace, or some other equally hospitable affair.
Selection of Heads of State
Heads of state may:
Elizabeth II
multiple head of state, as
Queen of the United Kingdom,
Australia, Canada,
New Zealand and other states
(1952-present)
- be elected (usually in a republic, with the head of state being called the 'President'. Though the Holy See is a monarchy, its monarch, the pope is elected for life.)
- inherit the position (in monarchies, where the head of state may be called the King or queen, Prince or Grand Duke or Emperor).
- seize power: authoritarian rulers often use democratic titles, though some proclaim themselves monarchs. Examples of the latter include Emperor Napoleon III of France and King Zog of Albania. Francisco Franco adopted the formal title Jefe del Estado, or Chief of State, and established himself as regent for a vacant monarchy. Saddam Hussein made himself President of Iraq, and the eccentric North Korean strongman Kim Jong Il bears no title at all, only the 'affectionate' nickname "the Dear Leader."
Governors-General
In some cases, where one person holds multiple headships of state, they may be represented by a Governor-General. Examples are Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, resides in another of her kingdoms, the United Kingdom, and so is represented by a Governor-General. Nations outside of the UK that recognize Elizabeth II as their Queen are known as Commonwealth Realms, and maintain ties to the monarchy as a recognition of their colonial history.
The Governor-General may fulfill many of the roles of a head of state, but is not legally the head of state, rather an appointed representative of the head of state that can act as the head of state in her absence from that constitutional monarchy. Some may consider the Governor-General as the de facto head of state of a country as the monarch rarely exercises the reserve powers of the crown. See, for example, the Queen of Canada.
Statistics
- World's longest serving current Head of State: King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (since 1946)
- World's longest serving current republican Head of State: President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo (since 1967)
- Nations with multiple people as Head of State: Switzerland (seven-member Federal Council); San Marino (two "Captains-regent"); Andorra (president of France and bishop of Urgell, Spain, co-princes).
Other Information
Every head of state is provided with a state residence or residences, often called a 'palace'. Among the most famous such residences are:
See also: Loss of Supply, President, Prime Minister, Monarch, Governor-General, List of national leaders
- White House - residence of the President of the United States
- Buckingham Palace - residence of the Queen of the United Kingdom
- Elysée Palace - residence of the President of the French Republic
- Vatican Palace - residence of the Pope
- Quirinal Palace - residence of the President of the Italian Republic
- Áras an Uachtaráin - residence of the President of Ireland
- Government House - residence of the Governor-General of Australia
- Rideau Hall - residence of the Governor General of Canada
- Kokyo - residence of the Emperor of Japan
- Istana - residence of the President of Singapore
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Head of State."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers on a branch of a plant. In BOTANY it refers to the arrangment of flowers on the axis. An inflorescence is said to be determinate if the number of flowers cannot increase after the first flower opens; in determinate flower clusters, the most distal flowers (furthest from the stem) open first or all open at about the same time. If the number of flowers can increase even as some are opening, the inflorescence is said to be indeterminate. In indeterminate inflorescences, the most proximal flowers (the ones closest to the base) open first.
There are numerous kinds of inflorescences, some characteristic of families or orders of plants. Following is a list of terms used to describe inflorescences with links to examples:
A flower head (Bidens torta) showing the individual
flowers (click here to enlarge).
- A corymb is a racemose (see raceme) inflorescence that is flat-topped or convex because the outer pedicels are progressively longer than the inner ones (see also umbel).
- A cyme is a class of determinate inflorescences characterized by the terminal flower blooming first.
- A head is a dense, indeterminate inflorescence of sessile or subsessile flowers crowded on a compound receptacle; sometimes called a capitulum. Characteristic of the Asteraceae.
- A panicle is a branched, indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate (having short floral stalks) flowers on the secondary branches.
- A raceme is an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate (having short floral stalks) flowers along the axis. Compare with spike.
- A spadix is a stalk with flowers densely arranged around it, enclosed or accompanied by a spathe. It is characteristic of the Araceae.
- A spike is an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence with sessile flowers arranged along the axis. Compare with raceme.
- An umbel is a type or raceme with a short axis and multiple floral pedicels that appear to arise from a common point. Inflorescence characteristic of the Apiaceae. A compressed cyme is called umbelliform if it resembles an umbel.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Inflorescence."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
HEAD | English | High Expansive Astac Demolition | Building & Civil Engineering |
| HE | English | Head End | Nuclear Energy & Physics |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: HeadSynonyms: arch(a) (adj), boss(a) (adj), chief(a) (adj), head(a) (adj), top(a) (adj), brain (n), capitulum (n), caput (n), chief (n), drumhead (n), forefront (n), fountainhead (n), head teacher (n), head word (n), heading (n), headspring (n), headway (n), mind (n), nous (n), oral sex (n), pass (n), point (n), principal (n), psyche (n), question (n), read/write head (n), school principal (n), straits (n), top dog (n), direct (v), guide (v), head up (v), lead (v), maneuver (v), manoeuvre (v), steer (v). (additional references) |
| Synonym by domain: headmistress (public administration, education). |
| Antonyms: foot (n), rear (n), tail (n). (additional references) |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Then hit yourself over the head with a baseball bat, would you please (The American President; writing credit: Aaron Sorkin.) Don't you mess with me, mister, or I'll divorce you so fast it'll make your head spin (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball) Why don't I just keep tapping you lightly on the head with the poker until a lump comes up (Sleuth; writing credit: Anthony Shaffer) I'll tell you what, you can get a good look at a t-bone by sticking your head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it. (Tommy Boy; writing credit: Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner.) When you were a baby I once dropped you on your head. (Deep Impact; writing credit: Bruce Joel Rubin; Michael Tolkin) | |
Lyrics | Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet (Head Over Feet; performing artist: Alanis Morissette) Head games, 'till I can't take it anymore, no more (Head Games; performing artist: Foreigner) I just can`t get U out of my head (Can't Get You Out Of My Head; performing artist: KYLIE MINOGUE) Now, your head goes round and round (The Dean And I; performing artist: 10CC) You stumbled in and bumped your head, if not for me then you would be dead (Kryptonite; performing artist: 3 Doors Down) | |
Clever | A peacock has too little in its head and too much in its tail. (references; author: Swedish Proverb) Butt head (references; author: unknown) Iraqi Head Seeks Arms (references; author: unknown) The proctologist called, they found your head. (references; author: unknown) Learning is forging ahead. Thinking is foraging a head. (references; author: unknown) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Head of State (2003) Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) The Magical Mystery Trip Through Little Red's Head (1974) Head Set (1973) The Man in My Head (1971) | |
Song Titles | Head Games (performing artist: Foreigner) CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD (performing artist: KYLIE MINOGUE) Morality's Ugly Head (performing artist: Timothy Leary) Head To Toe (performing artist: Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam) Goin' Out Of My Head (performing artist: Little Anthony) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
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Theater & Movies | |||
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High Tech |
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Consumer Goods | |||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | A female patient is lying on a bed with a technician positioning the patient's head in preparation for radiotherapy. This photograph was used in the NCI publication "When Someone in Your Family Has Cancer". Credit: Michael Anderson (photographer). |  | A woman's head is being secured by a female technician, preparing the woman for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Credit: Unknown photographer/artist. |
 | Six week old infant with botulism, which is evident as a marked loss of muscle tone, especially in the region of the head and neck. Credit: CDC. |  | A row of teeth arises from a large sclerotized plate borne laterally on the eighth abdominal segment. Uranotaenia have characteristically shaped heads, longer than wide. All but one Western species have four stout spines on the head. Credit: CDC. |
 | "Talking Head" by Hassan Sedaghat. Click on Edit inside DPGraph for more info on how the parameters affect the speed. |  | "Jellyfish Head" (movie) by Michael Parker. |
 | Patricia A. Parker, Head of the Operations Division at the Space Telescope Science Institute ... Credit: NASA. |  | What appears as a bird's head, leaning over to snatch up a tasty meal, is a striking example ... Credit: NASA. |
 | A lone seal's head is seen as he cruises among the small ice bergs of Tracy Arm. Credit: NOAA's Ark (Animals). |  | White terns or fairy terns, Gygis alba, in flight over the head of Jim McVey. Credit: NOAA's Ark (Animals). |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
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| "Hammer head shark" by Rushang Shah Commentary: "Hammer Head shark at Marine World, USA." | "Head" by Laszlo Toth Commentary: "Head." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Play | Caption |
 | Sneeze; sneezy; sneezing; head cold; allergy; allergies; hayfever. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Duc de La Rochefoucauld | The head is always the dupe of the heart. |
Friedrich Nietzsche | Art raises its head where creeds relax. |
George Herbert | Call in thy death's head there: tie up thy fears. |
Horace | I shall strike the stars with my unlifted head. |
Jules Renard | A cold in the head causes less suffering than an idea. |
Thomas Carlyle | The heart always sees before than the head can see. |
Virgil | Fame hides her head among the clouds. |
William Shakespeare | Keep a good tongue in your head. |
| Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
Magna Carta | 1215 | And on this head, we have caused to be made for them letters testimonial patent of the lord Stephen, archbishop of Canterbury, of the lord Henry, archbishop of Dublin, of the bishops aforesaid, and of Master Pandulf as touching this security and the concessions aforesaid. (reference) |
John Locke | 1690 | And then let our author, or any body else, join a knock on the head, or a cut on the face, with as much reverence and respect as he thinks fit. (Second Treatise of Government) |
US Declaration of Independence | 1776 | He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. (reference) |
Communist Manifesto | 1848 | Sismondi was the head of this school, not only in France but also in England. (reference) |
Winston S. Churchill | 1946 | Lloyd-George, who was the head of the British delegation at Versailles. ("Iron Curtain" Speech) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
Emma | Austen, Jane | Emma turned away her head, divided between tears and smiles |
Sylvie and Bruno Concluded | Carroll, Lewis | With hands clasped above her head, she rocked herself wildly to and fro. |
A Christmas Carol | Dickens, Charles | When it had said these words, the spectre took its wrapper from the table, and bound it round its head, as before |
Scarlet Letter | Hawthorne, Nathaniel | Now, after he had won the crown of martyrdom (though with no longer a head to wear it on), the point might be looked upon as settled |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | Madeleine raised his head, met the falcon eye of Javert still fixed upon him, looked at the immovable peasants, and smiled sadly |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | Every sinful act is a thorn piercing His head. |
King Richard III | Shakespeare, William | Why do you look on us, and shake your head, And call us orphans, wretches, castaways, If that our noble father were alive |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | Uncle John ducked his head under the water |
Gulliver's Travels | Swift, Jonathan | I could not forbear shaking my head and smiling a little at his ignorance |
Walden | Thoreau, Henry David | My head is hands and feet |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | Do not mix head lice drugs. (references) | |
Trauma, such as a head injury. (references) | ||
Turns head to you when you speak. (references) | ||
Business | Most head offices are based in Auckland. (references) | |
Vice Premier Zhu Rongji is a former head of this organization. (references) | ||
Insurance policies, however, have to originate in the head office. (references) | ||
Children | Bulgaria | Degrading and severe punishment, such as the shaving of a child's head, reduction in diet, severe beatings, and long periods of solitary confinement, are common at the schools. (references) |
Pakistan | Parents reportedly have given children as offerings to Baba Shah Dola, a shrine in Punjab where the children reportedly are deformed intentionally by clamping a metal form on the head that induces microcephalitis. (references) | |
Mozambique | The mortality rate for infants was 135 per 1,000, and for children under the age of 5 it was 201 per 1,000. The Maputo City Women and Social Action Coordination Office continued its program of rescuing abandoned orphans and assisting single mothers who head families of three or more persons. (references) | |
Civil Liberties | Haiti | One opposition member was hit in the head by stones. (references) |
Armenia | He was the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to visit the country. (references) | |
Afghanistan | Men also were required to wear head coverings and to wear their hair short. (references) | |
Economic History | Syria | Head of Homs Bar Association. (references) |
Afghanistan | Its supreme head is Mullah Omar. (references) | |
Nigeria | Olusegun Obasanjo, became head of state. (references) | |
Human Rights | Bolivia | General officers head both tribunals. (references) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | The housing department head resigned shortly afterwards. (references) | |
Peru | The autopsy only mentioned the bullet wound to the head. (references) | |
Indigenous People | Malaysia | However, according to press reports, the head of an NGO working with Orang Asli said in May 2000 that school dropout rates among Orang Asli had increased markedly over previous years, and the percentage of Orang Asli living below the poverty line was increasing as well. (references) |
Minorities | Czech Republic | In April two skinheads attacked an Indian medical student in Olomouc, and kicked him in the head until he was unconscious. (references) |
Czech Republic | The skinheads stabbed one of the injured four times, while the other was struck in the head by a projectile fired from an air pistol. (references) | |
Political Economy | Denmark | Queen Margrethe II is Head of State. (references) |
Sudan | This, at the least, entailed wearing a head covering. (references) | |
Netherlands | The Monarch (Queen Beatrix) is the titular Head of State. (references) | |
Political Rights | Swaziland |
