redhead
gb/ɹˈɛdhˌɛd/ us/ɹˈɛdhˌɛd/
B1
English
~ 10000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
person who has red hair
A person who has natural red hair.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a redhead
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I am redhead"* without an article. In English, you usually say *"I am a redhead"* or *"I have red hair"*. Another confusion is using *"redhead"* for hair itself (e.g. *"I have redhead"*), but you should say *"I have red hair"*.
Synonyms
red-haired person (More formal and descriptive; focuses on hair, not on the person as a type.)
|
ginger (Informal, mainly UK/Australia; can sound playful but also rude or offensive in some contexts.)
Antonyms
brunette (Refers to someone with brown hair, contrasting with red hair.)
|
blond (Refers to someone with very light hair, another common contrast with red hair.)
Collocations
natural redhead
|freckled redhead
|tall redhead
|born redhead
|fiery redhead
|pale redhead
Themes
people
|appearance
|identity
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her sister is a natural redhead with bright green eyes.
- The casting director was looking for a tall redhead for the main role.
- As a redhead, he burns easily in the sun and always wears sunscreen.
- He used to be a blond kid, but now he’s dating a redhead from his art class.
- The novel’s main character is a shy redhead who works in a bookshop.
Learner examples
- My brother is a redhead and has many freckles.
- The new student is a quiet redhead from Canada.
- She is the only redhead in her family.
- The movie star is a famous redhead.
- Two redheads were sitting at the front of the bus.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
2
a North American diving duck
A kind of duck from North America. The male duck has a red-brown head and a gray body.
Usage pattern:
a [redhead] (duck)
Synonyms
redhead duck (More explicit name used in field guides and general writing about birds.)
Collocations
flock of redhead
|redhead habitat
|redhead population
|redhead hunting
|redhead migration
Themes
animals
|nature
|hobbies
Examples
- We spotted a single redhead among a large raft of canvasbacks on the lake.
- The redhead is a popular species among North American waterfowl hunters.
- Wetland loss has significantly reduced redhead breeding habitat in some regions.
Learner examples
- The guide showed us a redhead on the water.
- Many redhead ducks rest on this lake in winter.
- A redhead has a round head and a short bill.
- The male redhead has a red-brown head and gray body.
Noun
C1
entity
3
safety match with red tip
A matchstick with a red top that you use to make fire, especially in Australia and New Zealand.
Usage pattern:
strike a [redhead]
Common mistake:
Learners outside Australia and New Zealand may not recognize this meaning and think *"redhead"* only means a person with red hair.
Synonyms
safety match (General term; does not specify the red-colored head or brand association.)
Collocations
box of redheads
|strike a redhead
|light a candle with a redhead
|buy a packet of redheads
Themes
daily life
|home
|objects
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He grabbed a box of redheads from the kitchen drawer to light the barbecue.
- The campsite shop only sold redheads, so we bought two packets for the weekend.
- She struck a redhead on the side of the box and lit the stove.
Learner examples
- He used a redhead to light the fire.
- Please buy a box of redheads at the shop.
- She struck a redhead and lit the candle.
- We keep redheads next to the stove.
Grammar
Dictionary form
redhead
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛdhˌɛd/
US/ɹˈɛdhˌɛd/
Syllables & stress
red - head (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (red)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: redhead
- Plural: redheads
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.