horn

SayHORN/hɔɹn//hɔːn/

26 meanings of horn

1
nouncountable
One of the hard, usually pointed parts that grow on the head of animals like cows, sheep, and goats.
The bull has a big horn on each side of its head.
Be careful near the goat, because its horns are very sharp.
UsageLock horns means argue; take the bull by the horns means face a problem.
Note
2
other spikenouncountable or uncountable
Something like a horn that grows on an animal, such as a deer's antler or a narwhal's long tusk.
Like the way a unicorn's single point is called a horn even though it's made-up.
The snail slowly stretched out one horn to feel its way.
Cartoon devils are often drawn with two little horns.
3
warning devicenouncountable
A thing that makes a loud noise as a warning or signal, like the one in a car.
Like a loud shout that warns people to watch out.
She pressed the horn when the light turned green.
The truck's horn was so loud it made me jump.
UsageSay honk the horn.
Similarhooter, klaxon
Note
4
nouncountable
A musical instrument you blow into, such as a trumpet or French horn.
The jazz band needed another horn for the front line.
She plays the horn in the school orchestra.
Note
5
point of landnouncountable
A narrow, pointed piece of land that sticks out into the sea.
Like a finger of land pointing out into the water.
The fishing village sits on a rocky horn of land facing the sea.
A small horn of land reached out into the bay.
Similarpeninsula
Note
6
nouncountable
A loud instrument used to send a signal to other people.
Like blowing a whistle to get everyone's attention.
The hunter blew a horn to call the dogs back.
The guard blew a horn to call everyone back to camp.
Note
7
materialnoununcountable
The hard material that animal horns are made of, used to make small objects.
Like how leather comes from animal skin, this material comes from animal horns.
The old comb was carved from horn.
Buttons made of horn were common before plastic.
UsageSay made of horn, with no a.
Similarkeratin
Note
8
nouncountable
Something shaped like an animal's horn, such as a curved fruit basket or the pointed end of an anvil.
The blacksmith bent the hot metal around the horn of the anvil.
Grandma's wicker horn was full of apples and little pumpkins.
9
nouncountable
A cone-shaped part that aims sound or radio waves in one direction.
Like cupping your hands around your mouth to send your voice farther.
The old phonograph had a large brass horn to spread the sound.
Engineers aimed the radio waves through a metal horn.
Similarfunnel
Note
10
noun
A hand sign with the first and little fingers up and the others folded, used especially by heavy metal fans.
The whole crowd threw up the horns when the band started playing.
My dad still flashes the horns whenever his favorite song comes on the radio.
UsageSay make the horns.
11
drinking vesselnouncountable or uncountable
A container made from an animal's horn, used to hold drink, ink, or gunpowder.
Like using a hollowed-out shell as a cup.
The warrior drank ale from a great horn.
He kept his gunpowder dry in a horn.
UsageMostly in words like drinking horn.
Similarvessel, cup, flask
Note

Less common meanings

12
arousalnounslangvulgarcountable or uncountablewith the
An erect penis.
He crossed his legs to hide his horn.
Tight jeans did nothing to hide his horn.
Similarboner, stiffy
Note
13
saddle knobnouncountable or uncountable
The raised front part of a saddle, or one of the supports on a sidesaddle that hold the rider's leg.
Like a handle at the front of the saddle you can hold on to.
She held onto the horn when the horse jumped the ditch.
Her sidesaddle had a padded horn to brace her leg.
Similarpommel
14
phonenounslangcountable
A telephone, especially the one you pick up to make a call.
Get on the horn and call the boss right now.
He picked up the horn and dialed her number.
UsageSay get on the horn, meaning make a call.
Similarphone, blower
Note
15
verbIndiaSingaporeintransitive
To press a car's horn so it makes a loud beep, often to warn other drivers.
Like pressing a doorbell, but on a car to make a loud beep.
Drivers behind us began to horn loudly when the light turned green.
He horned twice to let his friends know he had arrived.
Similarhonk, toot, beep, hoot
Note
16
moon tipnouncountable or uncountable
Either of the two pointed tips of a crescent shape, especially of the new moon.
Like the two sharp tips at the ends of a banana.
The moon's lower horn pointed toward the dark hills.
As the crescent thinned, its two horns grew sharper each night.
Similarcusp, point, tip
Note
17
add spikesverbtransitive
To add horns to something, such as a helmet, mask, or statue.
18
goreverbtransitive
To hit or wound someone or something with horns, the way an angry bull does.
The angry bull horned the matador before he could leap aside.
A frightened goat will horn a person who gets too close.
Similargore, butt, ram
19
wrong a husbandverbobsoletetransitive
To shame a married man by having an affair with his wife.
Note
20
noun
One of the four pointed corners that rose from the altar used in ancient Jewish worship.
21
noun
A small spike sticking out of a sea mine that sets off the blast when a ship bends or breaks it.
22
noun
A small mark added to the top right of the letters o and u in Vietnamese, making ơ and ư.
23
noun
A small curved, pointed part found inside the flower of a milkweed plant.
24
noun
The spiral, scroll-shaped part at the top of an Ionic column.
25
noun
The curved part that sticks up at the front of a wooden woodworking plane.
26
noun
On a ship, the outer tip of a crosstree, or a point forming the jaws of a gaff or boom.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of horn apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Old English "horn," from older Germanic words. It goes all the way back to an ancient root meaning "head" or "horn."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English horn descends from Old English horn. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word descends from older Germanic forms. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately descends from an ancient root meaning head or horn. en.wiktionary.org