5 PHRASE Someone or something that hits the headlines or grabs the headlines gets a lot of publicity from the media. □ Diver Tom hit the headlines when he qualified for the quarter finals at 13. COLLOCATIONS headline NOUN 1
noun + headline : banner, newspaper, tabloid
adjective + headline : back-page, front-page; national; lurid, negative, sensational
verb + headline : dominate, grab, hit, hog; run
hea dline-grabbing ADJ [usu ADJ n] A headline-grabbing statement or activity is one that is intended to attract a lot of attention, especially from the media. □ …a series of headline-grabbing announcements.
head|lin|er /he dla I nə r / (headliners ) N‑COUNT A headliner is the main performer or group of performers in a show. □ We have introduced singers like Madeline Bell as headliners and I think the club is beginning to take off.
head|long /he dlɒŋ, [AM ] -lɔːŋ/
1 ADV [ADV after v] If you move headlong in a particular direction, you move there very quickly. □ He ran headlong for the open door.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If you fall or move headlong , you fall or move with your head furthest forward. □ She missed her footing and fell headlong down the stairs.
3 ADV [ADV after v] If you rush headlong into something, you do it quickly without thinking carefully about it. □ Do not leap headlong into decisions. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Headlong is also an adjective. □ …the headlong rush to independence.
head|man /he dmən/ (headmen ) N‑COUNT A headman is the chief or leader of a tribe in a village.
head|master /he dmɑː stə r , -mæ st-/ (headmasters ) N‑COUNT A headmaster is a man who is the head teacher of a school. [mainly BRIT ]
head|mistress /he dm I str I s/ (headmistresses ) N‑COUNT A headmistress is a woman who is the head teacher of a school. [mainly BRIT ]
hea d of sta te (heads of state ) N‑COUNT A head of state is the leader of a country, for example a president, king, or queen.
hea d-o n
1 ADV [ADV after v] If two vehicles hit each other head-on , they hit each other with their fronts pointing towards each other. □ Pulling out to overtake, the car collided head-on with a van. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Head-on is also an adjective. □ Their car was in a head-on smash with an articulated lorry.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A head-on conflict or approach is direct, without any attempt to compromise or avoid the issue. □ The head-on clash would leave the government reeling. ● ADV [ADV after v] Head-on is also an adverb. □ Once again, I chose to confront the issue head-on.
head|phones /he dfoʊnz/ N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Headphones are a pair of padded speakers which you wear over your ears in order to listen to a radio, CD player, or tape recorder without other people hearing it.
head|quartered /he dkwɔː r tə r d/ V-PASSIVE If an organization is headquartered in a particular place, that is where its main offices are. □ [be V -ed + in/at ] The company is headquartered in Chicago.
head|quarters ◆◇◇ /he dkwɔː r tə r z/ N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] The headquarters of an organization are its main offices. □ …fraud squad officers from London's police headquarters.
head|rest /he drest/ (headrests ) N‑COUNT A headrest is the part of the back of a seat on which you can lean your head, especially one on the front seat of a car.
head|room /he druːm/ N‑UNCOUNT Headroom is the amount of space below a roof or bridge. □ The forecabin, with 6ft headroom, also has plenty of room to stand and get dressed.
head|scarf /he dskɑː r f/ (headscarves ) also head scarf
1 N‑COUNT A headscarf is a head covering which Muslim women wear.
2 N‑COUNT A headscarf is a small square scarf which some women wear round their heads, for example to keep their hair tidy. [BRIT ]
head|set /he dset/ (headsets )
1 N‑COUNT A headset is a small pair of headphones that you can use for listening to a radio or recorded music, or for using a phone.
2 N‑COUNT A headset is a piece of equipment that you wear on your head so you can see computer images or images from a camera in front of your eyes.
head|ship /he dʃ I p/ (headships ) N‑COUNT A headship is the position of being the head of a school, college, or department. □ I feel sure you'll be offered the headship.
hea d sta rt (head starts ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you have a head start on other people, you have an advantage over them in something such as a competition or race. □ A good education gives your child a head start in life.
head|stone /he dstoʊn/ (headstones ) N‑COUNT A headstone is a large stone which stands at one end of a grave, usually with the name of the dead person carved on it.
head|strong /he dstrɒŋ, [AM ] -strɔːŋ/ ADJ If you refer to someone as headstrong , you are slightly critical of the fact that they are determined to do what they want. □ He's young, very headstrong, but he's a good man underneath.
hea d tea ch|er (head teachers ) also headteacher N‑COUNT A head teacher is a teacher who is in charge of a school. [BRIT ]
hea d-to-hea d (head-to-heads )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A head-to-head contest or competition is one in which two people or groups compete directly against each other. □ He beat some of the world's greatest poker players in head-to-head competition. ● ADV Head-to-head is also an adverb. □ Canadian business cannot compete head-to-head with American business.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A head-to-head is a head-to-head contest or competition. □ …a head-to-head between the champion and the aspiring champion.