NOSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nose mean? 

• NOSE (noun)
  The noun NOSE has 8 senses:

1. the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

2. a front that resembles a human nose (especially the front of an aircraft)

3. the front or forward projection of a tool or weapon

4. a small distance

5. a symbol of inquisitiveness

6. the sense of smell (especially in animals)

7. a natural skill

8. a projecting spout from which a fluid is discharged

  Familiarity information: NOSE used as a noun is common.

• NOSE (verb)
  The verb NOSE has 6 senses:

1. search or inquire in a meddlesome way

2. advance the forward part of with caution

3. catch the scent of; get wind of

4. push or move with the nose

5. rub noses

6. defeat by a narrow margin

  Familiarity information: NOSE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NOSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

nose; olfactory organ

Context example:

he has a cold in the nose

Hypernyms ("nose" is a kind of...):

chemoreceptor (a sensory receptor that responds to chemical stimuli)

Meronyms (parts of "nose"):

nasal cavity (either of the two cavities lying between the floor of the cranium and the roof of the mouth and extending from the face to the pharynx)

arteria ethmoidalis; ethmoidal artery (a branch of the ophthalmic artery supplying structures in and around the nasal capsule)

turbinal; turbinate; turbinate bone (any of the scrolled spongy bones of the nasal passages in man and other vertebrates)

bridge (the hard ridge that forms the upper part of the nose)

anterior naris; nostril (either one of the two external openings to the nasal cavity in the nose)

internasal suture; sutura internasalis (the suture between the two nasal bones)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "nose"):

neb; snout (a long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head; especially the nose)

rostrum; snout (beaklike projection of the anterior part of the head of certain insects such as e.g. weevils)

beak; honker; hooter; nozzle; schnoz; schnozzle; snoot; snout (informal terms for the nose)

conk (informal term for the nose)

hawk nose (a nose curved downward like the beak of a hawk)

proboscis (the human nose (especially when it is large))

pug nose (a short nose; flattened and turned up at the end)

hooknose; Roman nose (a nose with a prominent slightly aquiline bridge)

Holonyms ("nose" is a part of...):

upper respiratory tract (the nose and throat and trachea)

face; human face (the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear)

Derivation:

nose (rub noses)

nose (push or move with the nose)

nose (catch the scent of; get wind of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A front that resembles a human nose (especially the front of an aircraft)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the nose of the rocket heated up on reentry

Hypernyms ("nose" is a kind of...):

front (the side that is seen or that goes first)

Holonyms ("nose" is a part of...):

aircraft (a vehicle that can fly)

missile (a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control)

Derivation:

nose (advance the forward part of with caution)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The front or forward projection of a tool or weapon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he ducked under the nose of the gun

Hypernyms ("nose" is a kind of...):

front (the side that is seen or that goes first)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A small distance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Context example:

my horse lost the race by a nose

Hypernyms ("nose" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Derivation:

nose (defeat by a narrow margin)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A symbol of inquisitiveness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

keep your nose out of it

Hypernyms ("nose" is a kind of...):

symbol (an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance)

Derivation:

nosey; nosy (offensively curious or inquisitive)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The sense of smell (especially in animals)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

the hound has a good nose

Hypernyms ("nose" is a kind of...):

olfaction; olfactory modality; sense of smell; smell (the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents)

Domain category:

animal; animate being; beast; brute; creature; fauna (a living organism characterized by voluntary movement)

Derivation:

nose (catch the scent of; get wind of)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A natural skill

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

he has a nose for good deals

Hypernyms ("nose" is a kind of...):

science; skill (ability to produce solutions in some problem domain)

Derivation:

nose (search or inquire in a meddlesome way)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A projecting spout from which a fluid is discharged

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

nose; nozzle

Hypernyms ("nose" is a kind of...):

spout (an opening that allows the passage of liquids or grain)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "nose"):

showerhead (a perforated nozzle that showers water on a bather)

Holonyms ("nose" is a part of...):

gas burner; gas jet (burner such that combustible gas issues from a nozzle to form a steady flame)

oilcan (a can with a long nozzle to apply oil to machinery)

sprinkler system (a system for extinguishing fires; water from a network of overhead pipes is released through nozzles that open automatically with the rise in temperature)

• NOSE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Search or inquire in a meddlesome way

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

horn in; intrude; nose; poke; pry

Context example:

This guy is always nosing around the office

Hypernyms (to "nose" is one way to...):

look; search (search or seek)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Also:

nose out (recognize or detect by or as if by smelling)

Derivation:

nose (a natural skill)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Advance the forward part of with caution

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

She nosed the car into the left lane

Hypernyms (to "nose" is one way to...):

advance; bring forward (cause to move forward)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

nose (a front that resembles a human nose (especially the front of an aircraft))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Catch the scent of; get wind of

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

nose; scent; wind

Context example:

The dog nosed out the drugs

Hypernyms (to "nose" is one way to...):

smell (inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

nose (the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals)

nose (the sense of smell (especially in animals))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Push or move with the nose

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "nose" is one way to...):

force; push (move with force)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

nose (the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Rub noses

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

nose; nuzzle

Hypernyms (to "nose" is one way to...):

caress; fondle (touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

nose (the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Defeat by a narrow margin

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "nose" is one way to...):

defeat; get the better of; overcome (win a victory over)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to nose his opponent

Derivation:

nose (a small distance)

 Context examples 

However, I began, with the assistance of the son of a professional man, who had been to Salem House—Yawler, with his nose on one side.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The powder can be eaten or snorted up the nose.

(Methamphetamine, NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Sometimes mild breathing problems are from a stuffy nose or hard exercise.

(Breathing Problems, NIH)

In fact, his conduct approached that of a bully, and he was given to swaggering up and down before Spitz’s very nose.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

It has a strong odor and can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

(Ammonia, NCI Dictionary)

An agent that exerts a physiologic effect on the organs of special senses, including the eyes, ears and nose.

(Agent Affecting Organs of Special Senses, NCI Thesaurus)

Removal of tissue from the nose for microscopic examination.

(Biopsy of Nose, NCI Thesaurus)

Sinusitis or problems with your nose may be to blame.

(Bad Breath, NIH)

The active ingredient in a drug used to treat symptoms of asthma, such as trouble breathing, tight chest, wheezing, coughing, and runny nose.

(Montelukast, NCI Dictionary)

A twig that he thought a long way off, would the next instant hit him on the nose or rake along his ribs.

(White Fang, by Jack London)