horn
gb/hˈɔɹn/ us/hˈɔɹn/
A2
English
~ 7300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
warning device on a vehicle
A part of a car or other vehicle that makes a loud sound when you press it, to warn or signal people.
Usage pattern:
the horn of [a vehicle]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'horn' and 'honk'. 'Horn' is the device on the vehicle. 'Honk' is usually the verb for using it (e.g., 'He honked the horn'). Also, in some languages the same word is used for a siren, but in English a 'siren' is a different, usually continuous alarm sound.
Synonyms
hooter (Informal British word for a car horn; less common in American English.)
|
klaxon (A specific brand name often used for very loud warning horns, especially on ships or in factories.)
Antonyms
silencer (A device that reduces noise, the opposite function of a horn, which creates loud noise.)
Collocations
car horn
|honk the horn
|blow the horn
|toot the horn
|blast of the horn
|horn blared
Themes
transport
|daily life
|transportation
|daily_life
Examples
- She hit the horn when the cyclist moved into her lane.
- The taxi's horn kept blaring outside the hotel entrance.
- If the light is green and the car in front doesn't move, people start honking their horns.
- The truck driver leaned on his horn as he drove through the tunnel.
- Please don't use your horn late at night; it wakes the neighbors.
Learner examples
- He pressed the horn to stop the child from crossing.
- The bus driver used the horn at the corner.
- I heard a car horn outside my window.
- She does not like it when drivers honk their horns.
- The taxi's horn was very loud.
Noun
A2
entity
2
hard pointed part on an animal
A hard, pointed part that grows on the head of some animals, like cows and goats.
Usage pattern:
the horn(s) of [an animal]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix up 'horn' and 'antler'. Horns are usually solid, can grow throughout an animal's life, and are found on animals like cows and goats. Antlers are grown and dropped each year and are found on animals like deer.
Synonyms
antler (Used for the branched bony structures on animals like deer; similar position and function but a different biological structure.)
Antonyms
hornless (Describes animals that do not have horns, either naturally or because they have been removed.)
Collocations
curved horns
|sharp horns
|goat's horns
|cow horns
|lock horns
Themes
animals
|nature
Examples
- The bull lowered its head and pointed its horns at the matador.
- Mountain goats use their horns to fight for territory.
- Farmers sometimes remove the horns of young cattle for safety.
- The sculpture showed a ram with long, twisted horns.
- She decorated the wall with an old set of cow horns.
Learner examples
- The cow has two horns on its head.
- The goat hit the fence with its horns.
- That animal has very long horns.
- They found a broken horn on the ground.
- The bull's horns are very dangerous.
Noun
B1
entity
3
brass or wind musical instrument
A musical instrument that you play by blowing air into it, especially a French horn or similar brass instrument.
Usage pattern:
play the horn in [a band]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'horn' always means 'French horn'. In everyday speech, 'horns' can also mean other brass instruments or even saxophones in a band. In classical music contexts, however, 'horn' usually specifically refers to the French horn.
Synonyms
brass (Informal collective term for brass instruments or their players in a band; not a one-to-one synonym for a single 'horn'.)
Antonyms
strings (The family of stringed instruments in contrast to horns and other wind instruments.)
Collocations
play the horn
|French horn
|horn section
|jazz horn player
|blow his horn
Themes
music
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- She plays horn in the city orchestra.
- The band added more horns to get a bigger sound.
- He started out on trumpet but later switched to horn.
- The horn section came in with a bright, brassy melody.
- Learning the French horn is challenging because the horn is difficult to tune.
Learner examples
- My friend plays the horn in a jazz band.
- He wants to learn the French horn.
- The song has a very loud horn part.
- The horns started to play, and everyone danced.
- She bought a new horn for music school.
Noun
B2
entity
4
container or tool made from a horn
A special object made from an animal horn or with the same shape, for example for drinking from or for making sounds.
Usage pattern:
a [type] horn filled with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'horn of plenty' is about sound. It actually refers to a horn-shaped container filled with food, a symbol of abundance.
Synonyms
cornucopia (Specifically a horn-shaped container for fruit and flowers; one common type of horn-shaped object.)
Antonyms
cup (A regular, straight-sided drinking container, unlike a curved horn-shaped one.)
Collocations
drinking horn
|powder horn
|hunting horn
|horn of plenty
|signal horn
Themes
history
|objects
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The museum displayed a Viking drinking horn carved with patterns.
- He carried gunpowder in a small leather powder horn.
- The hunter raised his horn and blew a short signal.
- The centerpiece was a horn of plenty overflowing with fruit.
- She bought a decorative horn made of brass to hang over the fireplace.
Learner examples
- He drank wine from a big horn.
- The soldier kept bullets in a powder horn.
- They used a horn to call people from the field.
- The picture shows a horn full of fruit.
- We saw an old hunting horn in the castle.
Noun
formal
C1
relation
5
one of two sharp alternatives
One of two sharp ends or hard choices, especially in the phrase 'on the horns of a dilemma'.
Usage pattern:
on the horns of [a dilemma]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'horns of a dilemma' is a literal phrase about animals. It is almost always used figuratively for two bad choices in one problem.
Synonyms
option (A more general, neutral word for a choice; 'horn' suggests a sharply difficult or painful option.)
Antonyms
easy choice (A situation where the options are not painful or sharply opposed.)
Collocations
horns of a dilemma
|each horn of the dilemma
|sharp horn of the problem
|between the horns
Themes
thinking
|problems
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The committee found itself on the horns of a dilemma: raise taxes or cut essential services.
- Either option would upset voters, so both horns of the dilemma were unattractive.
- Philosophers have long debated how to escape the horns of this moral dilemma.
- He tried to avoid being caught on the horns of a legal dispute.
- The policy leaves us impaled on the horns of competing priorities.
Learner examples
- She is on the horns of a dilemma about her job.
- Both horns of the dilemma are bad for the company.
- The story shows a man on the horns of a hard choice.
- He wants to escape the horns of this problem.
- The horns of the dilemma are clear, but the answer is not.
Noun
vulgar
C1
state
6
slang for a penile erection
Very rude slang for when a man's penis is hard.
Usage pattern:
have a horn
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this meaning is vulgar and old-fashioned in many regions. It should be avoided in formal or polite situations.
Synonyms
boner (Common vulgar slang for an erection; more widely used today than 'horn' in this sense.)
Antonyms
flaccid (Describes the penis when it is not erect; opposite physical state.)
Collocations
get a horn
|have a horn
|big horn
Themes
sex
|slang
|body
Examples
- The comedian used the word 'horn' in a dirty joke about teenage boys.
- In that movie, the character wakes up with a horn and feels embarrassed.
- This vulgar use of 'horn' is not appropriate in polite conversation.
Learner examples
- This meaning of 'horn' is very rude slang.
- You should not use the word 'horn' like this in normal talk.
- In some films, they use 'horn' as a bad joke about sex.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
7
informal term for a telephone
An informal, old word for a telephone.
Usage pattern:
get on the horn to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners might think this meaning is current everyday English. In reality, it sounds old-fashioned or belongs to specific dialects and should usually be avoided in modern conversation.
Synonyms
phone (The normal, neutral word; 'horn' sounds dated and slangy.)
Antonyms
face-to-face (Describes direct, in-person communication instead of using the phone.)
Collocations
on the horn
|get on the horn
|pick up the horn
|call him on the horn
Themes
communication
|technology
|daily_life
Examples
- I'll get on the horn and see if I can find us a table.
- He picked up the horn and dialed his lawyer.
- In old gangster movies, they sometimes call the telephone 'the horn'.
Learner examples
- He got on the horn and called his friend.
- In this book, they use the word 'horn' for phone.
- Today, people usually say 'phone', not 'horn'.
- The boss was on the horn with a client all morning.
Grammar
Dictionary form
horn
IPA
GB/hˈɔɹn/
US/hˈɔɹn/
Syllables & stress
horn (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (horn)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: horn
- Plural: horn, horns
Word family
Forms
horns
noun
Core family
horned
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
hornless
adjective
Advanced or less common
horny
adjective B2
Expressions
blow the horn
1/blˈoʊ ðə hˈɔɹn/
fixed phrase
use a horn to signal
To use a horn, for example on a car or as a musical or hunting signal, so that it makes a loud sound.
Examples
- Don't blow the horn unless it's an emergency.
- The coach blew the horn to start the race.
blow your own horn
1/blˈoʊ jˈʊɹ ˈoʊn hˈɔɹn/
idiom
informal
brag about yourself
To talk a lot about your own skills or successes, in a way that sounds like bragging.
Examples
- I don't want to blow my own horn, but I did finish the project a week early.
- She rarely blows her own horn, even though she's the best player on the team.
horn in on
1/hˈɔɹn ˈɪn ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
informal
intrude without being invited
To join or interfere in someone else's activity, plan, or conversation when they did not ask you to.
Examples
- I don't want to horn in on your plans, but could I come along?
- He's always trying to horn in on other people's business deals.
horn of plenty
1/hˈɔɹn əv plˈɛnti/
fixed phrase
cornucopia, symbol of abundance
A horn-shaped container full of fruit, grain, and other food, used as a symbol of having a lot of good things.
Examples
- The Thanksgiving table was decorated with a horn of plenty in the center.
- In art, the horn of plenty often represents wealth and good harvests.
on the horn
1/ˈɔn ðə hˈɔɹn/
fixed phrase
informal
talking on the phone
Talking on the telephone.
Examples
- He's been on the horn with tech support for an hour.
- I'll get on the horn to our supplier and see what they can do.
on the horns of a dilemma
1/ˈɔn ðə hˈɔɹnz əv ə dɪlˈɛmə/
idiom
formal
faced with two bad choices
In a hard situation where you must choose between two bad or difficult options.
Examples
- The company is on the horns of a dilemma: raise prices or cut staff.
- Voters often find themselves on the horns of a dilemma in two-party systems.
sound the horn
1/sˈaʊnd ðə hˈɔɹn/
fixed phrase
use a vehicle horn
To press the horn on a car or other vehicle so it makes a sound.
Examples
- Sound the horn if you see anyone crossing the driveway.
- The driver sounded his horn as he passed the school.
toot your own horn
1/tˈut jˈʊɹ ˈoʊn hˈɔɹn/
idiom
informal
boast about your achievements
To proudly tell people how good you are or what you have done, so that it sounds like bragging.
Examples
- He loves to toot his own horn about his sales numbers.
- Not to toot my own horn, but I think the presentation went really well.
lock horns
1/lˈɑk hˈɔɹnz/
idiom
Engage in direct conflict or argument
To get into an argument or fight with someone.
Examples
- The two leaders locked horns over trade policy.
- The two candidates locked horns over healthcare policy in the debate.
- They often lock horns during meetings.
- He often locks horns with his manager about how to run the team.
take the bull by the horns
1/tˈeɪk ðə bˈʊl bˈaɪ ðə hˈɔɹnz/
idiom
face a problem bravely and directly
To deal with a difficult or scary problem in a direct and brave way, instead of waiting or hiding.
Examples
- It was time to take the bull by the horns and talk to his boss about the mistake.
- It's time to take the bull by the horns and talk to your boss about the issue.
- She finally took the bull by the horns and ended the unhealthy relationship.
- She took the bull by the horns and called the customer to apologize.
- The government must take the bull by the horns and reform the tax system.