horn

horn — noun

1. a hard, pointed growth found on certain mammals such as cows, goats, sheep, and

1.nounA2
Definition

a hard, pointed growth found on certain mammals such as cows, goats, sheep, and rhinoceroses, typically growing in a matching pair.

Example

The old ram had one broken horn from a fight with another male.

countable noun referring to a single body part

Hyun carefully examined the goat's horns for signs of damage after the storm.

Common collocations
  • bull's horns
  • goat horns
  • sheep horns
  • sharp horns
  • curved horns
  • grow horns
  • broken horn
  • pair of horns
Synonyms
  • antler

    refers specifically to the branched, shed yearly structure on deer and moose — not the same as a horn

  • tusk

    a long, pointed tooth that sticks out of the mouth (elephant, walrus), not from the top of the head

  • spike

    a sharp, pointed growth; less specific than horn and used for smaller projections

Grammar Patterns

countable noun: a horn / horns

Usage Note

Countable noun. The plural horns is common when referring to the pair found on most horned animals. A rhinoceros has one or two horns, while cattle, sheep, and goats typically have two.

Common Mistakes

The deer has horns like a cow.
The deer has antlers, which are branched and shed each year.
'horns' are permanent and unbranched; deer have antlers, which are a different structure.

2. the hard, strong material made of keratin that forms animal horns, hooves, claws

2.nounB1
Definition

the hard, strong material made of keratin that forms animal horns, hooves, claws, and nails.

Example

Élise bought an antique comb that was carved from horn.

made of / carved from + horn (material)

Before plastic became common, many buttons were made of horn.

Common collocations
  • made of horn
  • carved from horn
  • horn handle
  • horn button
  • polished horn
  • horn cup
Synonyms
  • keratin

    the scientific name for the protein that horn is made of; very technical, not used in everyday conversation

  • tortoiseshell

    a similar material from turtle shells, often confused with horn but from a different source

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun: made of horn

Usage Note

Uncountable material noun. Used to describe objects crafted from animal horn, especially in historical or traditional contexts. The phrase 'made of horn' or 'carved from horn' is common.

Common Mistakes

I bought a horn comb.' (ambiguous — could mean a comb shaped like an animal horn)
I bought a comb made of horn.
adding 'made of' clarifies you mean the material.

3. any body part on an animal that sticks out and looks like a true horn, such as a

3.nounB2
Definition

any body part on an animal that sticks out and looks like a true horn, such as a snail's eye stalks or a chameleon's nasal projection.

Example

The snail slowly pulled in its two small horns when Eliska touched a nearby leaf.

snail's horns — a common non-zoological use

Ramón noticed a horn-like spike at the rear end of the caterpillar's body.

Common collocations
  • horn-like spike
  • small horns
  • nasal horn
  • snail's horns
Synonyms
  • projection

    general term for any part that sticks out; less specific and more clinical than 'horn'

  • antenna

    the correct term for the paired sensory organs on insects and crustaceans, sometimes loosely called 'horns'

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

Usage Note

Less common in everyday speech. Used mainly in biology, nature documentaries, or when describing non-mammalian animals. Distinguish from sense 1, which refers specifically to the true keratin horns of mammals.

4. a warning device fitted to cars, trucks, and buses that produces a loud noise to

4.nounA2
Definition

a warning device fitted to cars, trucks, and buses that produces a loud noise to alert people or attract their attention.

Example

The driver honked her horn when a cat ran across the road.

collocation: honk + horn

Hamza pressed the horn twice to let his friend know he was waiting outside.

Common collocations
  • honk the horn
  • sound the horn
  • car horn
  • horn blast
  • press the horn
  • beep the horn
Synonyms
  • siren

    a louder, rising-and-falling sound used on emergency vehicles, not the same as a car horn

  • hooter

    British informal term for a car horn

Grammar Patterns

countable noun: honk / sound a horn

Usage Note

Common verb collocations: honk (a horn), sound (a horn), beep (a horn), blast (a horn). In British English, 'hoot the horn' is also used. The horn is typically operated by pressing a button or ring on the steering wheel.

Common Mistakes

I horned at the dog.
I honked the horn at the dog.
'horn' is a noun, not a verb. Use 'honk the horn' or 'sound the horn.'

5. a simple wind instrument, originally made from an animal's horn or from metal, t

5.nounB1
Definition

a simple wind instrument, originally made from an animal's horn or from metal, that produces a loud sound when blown into, often used for signalling.

Example

The hunter blew a long blast on his horn to call the dogs back.

collocation: blow a horn

Linh learned to play three folk tunes on a simple brass horn.

Common collocations
  • blow a horn
  • hunting horn
  • signal horn
  • curved horn
  • brass horn
Synonyms
  • bugle

    a specific type of brass signalling instrument without valves, similar to a simple horn

  • trumpet

    a brass instrument with valves but a different shape and higher pitch than a French horn

Grammar Patterns

countable noun: blow a horn

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 6 (BRASS INSTRUMENT): this sense refers to simple, often valveless instruments used for signalling (hunting, military, ceremonial). Sense 6 refers to the complex orchestral brass instrument with valves (French horn).

6. a large coiled brass wind instrument with a wide bell-shaped end and finger-oper

6.nounB1
Definition

a large coiled brass wind instrument with a wide bell-shaped end and finger-operated valves for changing pitch, commonly used in orchestras and bands.

Example

Iris played the French horn in the school orchestra for three years.

play + the + French horn (orchestral instrument)

The horn section stood up and played a powerful melody during the final movement.

Common collocations
  • play the horn
  • French horn
  • horn section
  • horn player
  • orchestral horn
  • brass section
Synonyms
  • French horn

    the full name of the orchestral brass instrument; 'horn' is the shortened form

  • trumpet

    a different brass instrument with a brighter, higher sound and a different shape

Grammar Patterns

countable noun: play the horn

Usage Note

In orchestra contexts, 'horn' alone usually means the French horn. In jazz, 'horn' can informally refer to any brass or wind instrument (saxophone, trumpet). The definite article is used when referring to the instrument as a section role ('plays the horn').

Common Mistakes

She plays horn in the band.
She plays the horn in the band.
use the definite article when naming the instrument someone plays.
Idioms

blow your own horn

idiom

to praise your own abilities, achievements, or success, often in a way that other people find annoying.

Ife won the award but did not want to blow her own horn about it.

Nobody likes a colleague who is always blowing their own horn during meetings.

lock horns

idiom

to become involved in a heated argument or serious disagreement with someone.

The two politicians locked horns over the proposed tax changes.

Heather locked horns with her brother about who should pay for the repairs.

take the bull by the horns

idiom

to deal with a difficult or dangerous situation in a brave and direct way.

When the project fell behind schedule, Eli took the bull by the horns and reorganised the team.

Sana decided to take the bull by the horns and tell her boss the truth.

on the horns of a dilemma

idiom

in a situation where you must choose between two options that are equally unpleasant or difficult.

The committee found itself on the horns of a dilemma: raise fees or cut services.

Heather was on the horns of a dilemma, torn between staying with her family or taking the job abroad.

Horn (cape in Iceland)

idiom

a cape located just south of the Arctic Circle in northwestern Iceland.

The ship sailed around Horn, the northernmost point of the Icelandic coast.

Few tourists visit the remote cape of Horn because of its harsh weather.

blow/toot your own horn

idiom

To talk about your own successes or abilities in a way that shows too much pride.

Maya never needs to blow her own horn because her work speaks for itself.

Is it okay to toot your own horn during a job interview?

draw/pull your horns in

idiom

To become more cautious, especially by reducing spending or activities.

After losing his job, Brian had to pull his horns in and stop eating out.

The company drew its horns in when sales dropped last quarter.

lock horns (with somebody) (over something)

idiom

To start arguing or fighting with someone about something.

The two politicians locked horns over the new tax proposal.

Sara locked horns with her neighbor about the noisy dog.

Word family

  • horned
    adjectiveB1
  • hornless
    adjectiveC1
  • horny
    adjectiveC1
  • hornlike
    adjectiveC1
  • French horn
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Horn, antler, tusk, and spike all refer to hard, pointed growths on animals, but each has a specific meaning. A horn (noun/1) is a permanent, unbranched, pointed growth made of keratin covering a bony core, found on animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, and rhinoceroses. An antler is a branched, bony structure that grows on deer, moose, and elk; antlers are shed and regrown every year, unlike true horns. A tusk is a long, protruding tooth—usually made of ivory—that grows from the mouth area, as seen on elephants, walruses, and wild boars. A spike is a general term for any sharp, pointed projection and is far less specific; it can describe small pointed parts on animals or plants. For example, a farmer would say 'the bull's horns are sharp' (true horn), but 'the deer's antlers are covered in velvet' (a different structure), and 'the elephant uses its tusks to dig' (modified teeth, not horns).

horn ↗antlertuskspike ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • horn of plenty
  • pair of horns

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'horn' comes from Old English 'horn,' which in turn comes from Proto-Germanic '*hurną.' This Germanic root traces back to the Proto-Indo-European '*ḱer-,' meaning 'head, horn, or top.' The same ancient root produced Latin 'cornu' (horn), Greek 'keras' (horn, as in 'rhinoceros' — 'nose horn'), and Welsh 'corn' (horn). The word has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning across thousands of years and dozens of languages, reflecting how familiar animal horns were to early human societies. The musical instrument sense appeared in Old English as well, and the vehicle warning device meaning dates from the early 1900s, when cars began to use warning devices that mimicked the sound of earlier coach horns.