Headword
noun
The main word or phrase in a sentence or paragraph title that indicates its topic or theme.
In a dictionary, the headword is printed at the very top or beginning of each page and the definitions follow soon after.
Often appears as...
- dictionary headword
- entry headword
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The main word or phrase that is used as the title of a document or reference work.
For your essay, choose a headword that is captivating and easily tells readers what your paper is about.
Often appears as...
- catchy headword
- informative headword
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
In linguistics, the word that determines the syntactic category of a phrase.
In the noun phrase 'the big red ball,' the headword is 'ball.'
Often appears as...
- noun phrase headword
- verb phrase headword
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The main word or phrase in a sentence or paragraph title that indicates its topic or theme.
In a dictionary, the headword is printed at the very top or beginning of each page and the definitions follow soon after.
Often appears as...
- dictionary headword
- entry headword
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The main word or phrase that is used as the title of a document or reference work.
For your essay, choose a headword that is captivating and easily tells readers what your paper is about.
Often appears as...
- catchy headword
- informative headword
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
In linguistics, the word that determines the syntactic category of a phrase.
In the noun phrase 'the big red ball,' the headword is 'ball.'
Often appears as...
- noun phrase headword
- verb phrase headword
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Dictionary Navigation
In dictionaries, the headword helps you locate words efficiently, similar to using a map.
Looking up 'acquire,' I found the headword at the top of the page.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Prominence
Headwords are often bold or italicized to stand out from explanations and examples.
Every headword was bolded in her vocabulary notebook for easy reference.
Pro Tip 3/3Alphabetical Order
In dictionaries and thesauruses, headwords are listed alphabetically to guide users.
She quickly browsed through the headwords organized in alphabetical order.
Pro Tip 1/3Dictionary Navigation
In dictionaries, the headword helps you locate words efficiently, similar to using a map.
Looking up 'acquire,' I found the headword at the top of the page.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Prominence
Headwords are often bold or italicized to stand out from explanations and examples.
Every headword was bolded in her vocabulary notebook for easy reference.
Pro Tip 3/3Alphabetical Order
In dictionaries and thesauruses, headwords are listed alphabetically to guide users.
She quickly browsed through the headwords organized in alphabetical order.
Pro Tip 1/3Dictionary Navigation
In dictionaries, the headword helps you locate words efficiently, similar to using a map.
Looking up 'acquire,' I found the headword at the top of the page.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Prominence
Headwords are often bold or italicized to stand out from explanations and examples.
Every headword was bolded in her vocabulary notebook for easy reference.
Pro Tip 3/3Alphabetical Order
In dictionaries and thesauruses, headwords are listed alphabetically to guide users.
She quickly browsed through the headwords organized in alphabetical order.
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