headed

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of head.

   The convoy headed north along the coastal road.

   She has headed the research team since its founding.

   Note

   The verb form does two quite different jobs, depending on whether head takes an object. With an object it means led or came first: Smith headed the team, or, in the passive, the team was headed by Smith. Without one it means moved, and it needs a direction: we headed toward the ocean. That second use is the root of the "on its way" adjective.

2. 2
   adjectivein compounds

   Having a head or brain with the particular characteristics named by an attached describing word.

   Her clear-headed approach calmed everyone in the room.

   The pig-headed manager refused to revisit the failing plan.

   Note

   Built from the noun head plus -ed, this sense almost never stands alone. It ends a compound whose first part does the describing, as in mad-headed or large-headed. The pattern is not limited to people: a pick-headed axe uses it for a tool. So a compound like this can describe the working end of an object as readily as a person's skull or temperament.

3. 3
   adjectivein compounds

   Having hair of a particular color, named by an attached describing word.

   The red-headed twins were almost impossible to tell apart.

   A silver-headed woman led the choir through the final hymn.

   Similarhaired

4. 4
   adjectivein compounds

   Moving or pointing in a particular direction or toward a particular outcome.

   The hikers were headed toward the summit before noon.

   Prices seem headed for another sharp rise next quarter.

   Similarbound, set, destined

   Note

   Unlike the head-and-mind compounds, which are built on the noun, this one is built on the verb: it turns the verb's sense of moving somewhere into an adjective. In a compound, the direction goes in front, as in southward-headed caravans. Outside a compound it follows be and takes for or toward: the caravans were headed for the coast.

5. 5
   adjective

   Of a sheet of paper, printed at the top with the sender's name, address and similar details.

   The lawyer replied on headed notepaper bearing the firm's crest.

   Official complaints must be submitted on headed paper.

   Oppositeunheaded, headless

6. 6
   adjective

   Of a fastener or similar part, having an enlarged end formed on it, typically by die-stamping or pressing.

   The press formed headed rivets from lengths of steel wire.

   Inspectors rejected any headed bolt with a cracked top.

   Oppositeheadless, unheaded

   Note

   Hardware has its own use of the word, and it names a process rather than a shape: a rivet or bolt is headed once its head has been formed on it. It belongs on the shop floor, not in general description. Its opposites, headless and unheaded, describe a part that has no head formed on it.

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