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horn

/hɔrn/

/hɔn/

IPA guide

Other forms: horns; horned; horning

A horn is an instrument that's made of metal and is played by blowing into it. Another type of horn comes out of an animal's head. Don't confuse the two and imagine a trombone sticking out of a water buffalo's head.

A trumpet is one kind of horn, and another is a silly plastic noisemaker that produces a loud, honking sound. You might blow this horn at a New Year's party or a football game. Your car has a horn too, that you use to warn other drivers of your presence or express your annoyance. The horns that animals have are hard, bony bumps or projections on their heads — you'll see them on goats and bulls, for example.

Definitions of horn
  1. noun
    a brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves
    synonyms: cornet, trump, trumpet
    see moresee less
    types:
    serpent
    an obsolete bass cornet; resembles a snake
    type of:
    brass, brass instrument
    a wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) that is blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece
  2. noun
    a brass musical instrument consisting of a conical tube that is coiled into a spiral and played by means of valves
    synonyms: French horn
    see moresee less
    type of:
    brass, brass instrument
    a wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) that is blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece
  3. noun
    a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
    see moresee less
    type of:
    noisemaker
    a device (such as a clapper or bell or horn) used to make a loud noise at a celebration
  4. noun
    an alarm device that makes a loud warning sound
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 5 types...
    hide 5 types...
    air horn
    a pneumatic horn
    foghorn
    a warning device consisting of a horn that generates a loud low tone
    claxon, klaxon
    a kind of loud horn formerly used on motor vehicles
    shofar, shophar
    an ancient musical horn made from the horn of a ram; used in ancient times by the Israelites to sound a warning or a summons; used in synagogues today on solemn occasions
    diaphone
    a foghorn that makes a signal consisting of two tones
    type of:
    alarm, alarm system, warning device
    a device that signals the occurrence of some undesirable event
  5. noun
    a device on an automobile for making a warning noise
    synonyms: automobile horn, car horn, hooter, motor horn
    see moresee less
    type of:
    alarm, alarm system, warning device
    a device that signals the occurrence of some undesirable event
  6. noun
    a noise made by the driver of an automobile to give warning;
    see moresee less
    type of:
    alarm, alarum, alert, warning signal
    an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger
  7. noun
    one of the bony outgrowths on the heads of certain ungulates
    see moresee less
    types:
    antler
    deciduous horn of a member of the deer family
    type of:
    appendage, outgrowth, process
    a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant
  8. noun
    any hard protuberance from the head of an organism that is similar to or suggestive of a horn
    see moresee less
    type of:
    appendage, outgrowth, process
    a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant
  9. noun
    the material (mostly keratin) that covers the horns of ungulates and forms hooves and claws and nails
    see moresee less
    types:
    baleen, whalebone
    a horny material from the upper jaws of certain whales; used as the ribs of fans or as stays in corsets
    tortoiseshell
    the mottled horny substance of the shell of some turtles
    type of:
    animal material
    material derived from animals
  10. noun
    a device having the shape of a horn
    horns at the ends of a new moon”
    “the horn of an anvil”
    “the cleat had two horns
    see moresee less
    type of:
    device
    an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
  11. verb
    stab or pierce with a horn or tusk
    “the rhino horned the explorer”
    synonyms: tusk
    see moresee less
    type of:
    pierce, thrust
    penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
  12. noun
    a high pommel of a Western saddle (usually metal covered with leather)
    synonyms: saddle horn
    see moresee less
    type of:
    pommel, saddlebow
    handgrip formed by the raised front part of a saddle
Pronunciation
US

/hɔrn/

UK

/hɔn/

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