horn
horn
(hôrn) noun
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 a 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. Abbr. h., H. Music. a. A wind instrument made of an animal horn. b. A brass wind 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.
verb
, intransitive
horned, horning, horns
To join without being invited; intrude. Used with in.
idiom.
blow (one's) own horn or toot (one's) own horn Informal
To brag or boast about oneself.
draw in (one's) horns or haul in (one's) horns, pull in (one's) horns Informal
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, from Old English.]
horn
adjective
horn
ʹist noun