horn
horn
/hɔːn/
1 countable a hard pointed part that grows, usually in pairs, on the heads of some animals, such as sheep and cows. Horns are often curved. a large bull with curved horns
Collocations
adjective
2 uncountable the hard substance of which animal horns are made ornaments made of rhino horn
3 countable a device in a vehicle for making a loud sound as a warning or signal to honk your car horn
(British English) to sound/toot your horn
Behind him, a horn blared.
He gave a furious blast on his horn.
Impatient horn blasts began to sound behind him.
Passing motorists honked their horns.
She flashed her lights and honked her horn at the car in front.
Collocations
adjective
car
verb + horn
beepblareblow…
horn + verb
beepblarehonk…
horn + noun
blast
preposition
on a/the horn
4 countable a simple musical instrument that consists of a curved metal tube that you blow into a hunting horn
Collocations
verb + horn
horn + noun
5 (especially British English) (also French horn British and North American English) countable a brass musical instrument that consists of a long tube curled around in a circle with a wide opening at the end a horn concerto
Idioms
blow/toot your own horn
(North American English)
(also blow your own trumpet especially in British English)
(informal) to praise your own abilities and achievements
synonym boast
draw/pull your horns in
to start being more careful in your behaviour, especially by spending less money than before
Small businesses have had to pull their horns in during the recession.
lock horns (with somebody) (over something)
to get involved in an argument with somebody
The company has locked horns with the unions over proposed pay cuts.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2
on the horns of a dilemma
in a situation in which you have to make a choice between things that are equally unpleasant
The medical profession’s eagerness for scientific advance had impaled it on the horns of a dilemma, forcing an unnatural choice between science and morality.
The dire economic situation had placed the prime minister on the horns of a dilemma.
Topics Preferences and decisionsc2
take the bull by the horns
to face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with courage
Nora decided to take the bull by the horns and organize things for herself.
Topics Difficulty and failurec2
Word Origin
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoorn and German Horn, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin cornu and Greek keras.