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horn

noun \ˈhȯrn\

: one of the hard pointed parts that grows on the head of some animals (such as cattle, goats, or sheep)

: a hard pointed part that grows on the nose of a rhinoceros

: the hard material of which horns are made

Full Definition of HORN

a : one of the usually paired bony processes that arise from the head of many ungulates and that are found in some extinct mammals and reptiles: as (1) : one of the permanent paired hollow sheaths of keratin usually present in both sexes of cattle and their relatives that function chiefly for defense and arise from a bony core anchored to the skull — see cow illustration (2) : antler (3) : a permanent solid horn of keratin that is attached to the nasal bone of a rhinoceros (4) : one of a pair of permanent bone protuberances from the skull of a giraffe or okapi that are covered with hairy skin

b : a part like an animal's horn attributed especially to the devil

c : a natural projection or excrescence from an animal resembling or suggestive of a horn

d (1) : the tough fibrous material consisting chiefly of keratin that covers or forms the horns of cattle and related animals, hooves, or other horny parts (as claws or nails) (2) : a manufactured product (as a plastic) resembling horn

e : a hollow horn used to hold something

: something resembling or suggestive of a horn: as

a : one of the curved ends of a crescent

b : a sharp mountain peak

c : a body of land or water shaped like a horn

d : a beak-shaped part of an anvil

e : a high pommel of a saddle

f : cornu

a : an animal's horn used as a wind instrument

b : a brass wind instrument: as (1) : hunting horn (2) : french horn

c : a wind instrument used in a jazz band; especially : trumpet

d : a usually electrical device that makes a noise like that of a horn

: a source of strength

: one of the equally disadvantageous alternatives presented by a dilemma

slang : telephone

— horn adjective

— horned \ˈhȯrnd also ˈhȯr-nəd\ adjective

— horned·ness \ˈhȯr-nəd-nəs, ˈhȯrn(d)-nəs\ noun

— horn·less \ˈhȯrn-ləs\ adjective

— horn·less·ness noun

— horn·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See horn defined for English-language learners

See horn defined for kids

Origin of HORN

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German horn, Latin cornu, Greek keras

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to HORN

Synonyms: cornucopia, cornet

Rhymes with HORN

born, borne, bourn, corn, lorn, morn, mourn, Norn, Orne, porn, scorn, thorn, warn, Zorn

Horn

geographical name \ˈhȯrn\

Definition of HORN

cape NW Iceland

Variants of HORN

Horn or North Cape

HORN Defined for Kids

horn

noun \ˈhȯrn\

Definition of HORN for Kids

: one of the hard bony growths on the head of many hoofed animals (as cattle, goats, or sheep)

: the tough material of which horns and hooves are composed <The knife handle was made of horn.>

: a brass musical instrument (as a trumpet or French horn)

: a usually electrical device that makes a noise like that of a horn <Drivers were blowing their horns.>

: something shaped like or made from a horn <Each soldier carried a horn of powder.>

: a musical or signaling instrument made from an animal's horn

— horned \ˈhȯrnd\ adjective

— horn·less \ˈhȯrn-ləs\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

horn

noun \ˈhȯ(ə)rn\

Medical Definition of HORN

a : one of the usually paired bony processes that arise from the head of many ungulates and that are found in some extinct mammals and reptiles; especially : one of the permanent paired hollow sheaths of keratin usually present in both sexes of cattle and their relatives that function chiefly for defense and arise from a bony core anchored to the skull b : the tough fibrous material consisting chiefly of keratin that covers or forms the horns of cattle and related animals, hooves, or other horny parts (as claws or nails)

: cornu

—horned \ˈhȯ(ə)rnd\ adjective