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nose definition

nose (nōz)

noun

  1. the part of the human face between the mouth and the eyes, having two openings and cavities behind them for breathing and smelling
  2. the part that corresponds to this in animals; snout, muzzle, etc.
  3. the sense of smell
  4. the overall smell of a wine; bouquet
  5. the power of tracking or perceiving by or as if by scent a nose for news
  6. anything resembling a nose in shape or position; projecting or foremost part, as a nozzle, spout, prow of a ship, front of an airplane, etc.
  7. the nose regarded as a symbol of prying or meddling to poke one's nose into another's affairs
  8. Slang a police spy or informer

Etymology: ME < OE nosu, akin to Ger nase, orig. a dual, meaning “the two nostrils” < IE base *nas-, nostril > Sans nāsā, the nose, lit., pair of nostrils, L nasus, nose & naris (pl. nares), nostril

transitive verb nosed, nosing nos′·ing

  1. to discover or perceive by or as if by the sense of smell
  2. to touch or rub with the nose
  3. to push with the nose: with aside, open, etc.
  4. to make or push (a way, etc.) cautiously or slowly with the front forward the ship nosed its way into the harbor

intransitive verb

  1. to smell; sniff
  2. to pry inquisitively
  3. to move cautiously or slowly with the front end forward
nose Idioms

by a nose

☆
  1. by the length of the animal's nose in horse racing, etc.
  2. by a very small margin

count noses

to count the number of people present, voting, etc.

cut off one's nose to spite one's face

to injure one's own interests, in a fit of anger, resentment, etc.

follow one's nose

to go straight forward

have one's nose out of joint

to be irritated, annoyed, frustrated, etc.

lead by the nose

to dominate completely

look down one's nose at

Informal to be disdainful of

nose out

  1. to defeat by a very small margin
  2. to discover, as by smelling

nose over

to turn over on its nose: said of an airplane moving on the ground

on the nose

Slang
  1. that (a specified horse, etc.) will finish first in a race
  2. precisely; exactly

pay through the nose

Informal to pay an unreasonable price

put someone's nose out of joint

to irritate, annoy, frustrate, etc.

rub someone's nose in

Etymology: from the practice, in housebreaking a pet, of rubbing its nose in its urine or feces

Informal to keep reminding someone of something unpleasant, as a mistake made

turn up one's nose at

to sneer at; scorn

under one's (very) nose

in plain view

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms nose idiom

medical nose definition - medical

nose Synonyms

nose

n.

  1. The organ of smell

    nasal organ, nasal cavity, nares, nasal passages, nostrils, olfactory nerves, snoot*, proboscis*, beak*, bill*, trunk*; see also organ 2.

  2. A projection

    snout, nozzle, muzzle; see projection.

by a nose*

by a very small margin, too close for comfort, barely; see almost.

count noses*

take attendance, add, total, sum up; see count.

cut off one's nose to spite one's face

injure one's own interests, hurt oneself, be self-destructive; see hurt 1.

follow one's nose

go straight forward, continue blindly, keep going; see advance 1, continue 1.

look down one's nose at*

disdain, snub, be disgusted by; see scorn 1.

on the nose*

precisely, to the point, correctly; see exactly.

pay through the nose

pay an unreasonable price, pay heavily, get taken*; see pay 1.

put one's nose out of joint*

harm, irritate, hurt; see anger 1.

turn up one's nose at

sneer at, refuse, disdain; see scorn 1.

under one's (very) nose

in plain sight, visible, at one's fingertips; see obvious 1.


nose

v.

search, inspect, pry; see examine 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

nose Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • bleed: I will no longer be caught with a bleeding nose, heart palpatations, week long benders or hurting myself in any major way.

Adjective modifier

  • runny: A runny nose = cold or allergies - see a vet.

Modifies a noun

  • cone: Bubble two-seat tandem cockpit and a short nose cone.

Noun used with modifier

  • spindle: The throat was 11 " as was the maximum vertical clearance between the table and the spindle nose.

Preposition: with

  • aroma: Tasting Note: Has a rich deep color and a wonderfully expressive nose with intense aromas of walnut, plums and crushed berries.
nose usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

nose quotes

   Insects are what neurosis would sound like, if neurosis could make a noise with its nose.

-Amis, Martin Louis

   Nose, nose, jolly red nose, Who gave thee this jolly red nose?† Nutmegs and ginger, cinnamon and cloves, And they gave me this jolly red nose. 20

-Anonymous

O tell me the truth about love. When it comes, will it come without warning Just as I'm picking my nose? Will it knock on my door in the morning, Or tread in the bus on my toes?

-Auden,W(ystan) H(ugh)

nose quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"nose." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/nose>

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nose. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/nose

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