nose

[ nohz ]

noun

1. the part of the face or facial region in humans and certain animals that contains the nostrils and the organs of smell and functions as the usual passageway for air in respiration: in humans it is a prominence in the center of the face formed of bone and cartilage, serving also to modify or modulate the voice.
2. this part as the organ of smell.
3. the sense of smell:

   fragrances appealing to the nose.

4. anything regarded as resembling the nose of a person or animal, as a spout or nozzle.
5. the prow of a ship.
6. the forward end of an aircraft.
7. the forward edge of the head of a golf club.
8. a projecting part of anything:

   the nose of a pair of pliers.

9. a faculty of perceiving or detecting:

   to have a nose for news.

10. the human nose regarded as a symbol of meddling or prying:

    Why can't he keep his nose out of my business?

11. the length of a nose:

    The horse won the race by a nose.

12. the bouquet of an alcoholic drink, especially the distinctive aroma of a wine.

verb (used with object)

, nosed, nos·ing.

1. to perceive by or as by the nose or the sense of smell:

   a cheese that could be nosed at some distance.

2. to approach the nose to, as in smelling or examining; sniff.
3. to move or push forward with or as with the nose:

   The dog nosed its pup back into the yard. The boat nosed its way toward shore.

4. to touch or rub with the nose; nuzzle.

verb (used without object)

, nosed, nos·ing.

1. to smell or sniff.
2. to seek as if by smelling or scent:

   The dogs nosed after their quarry.

3. to move or push forward:

   to nose into the wind.

4. to meddle or pry (often followed by about, into, etc.):

   They are always nosing about in other people's business.

verb phrase

1. 1. to defeat, especially by a narrow margin:

      The other candidates had been nosed out in the final returns.

   2. to learn or discover, especially by snooping or prying:

      to nose out a secret.

nose

/ nəʊz /

noun

1. the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract, consisting of a prominent structure divided into two hair-lined air passages by a median septum nasalrhinal
2. the sense of smell itself: in hounds and other animals, the ability to follow trails by scent (esp in the phrases a good nose , a bad nose )
3. another word for bouquet
4. instinctive skill or facility, esp in discovering things (sometimes in the phrase follow one's nose )

   he had a nose for good news stories

5. any part regarded as resembling a nose in form or function, such as a nozzle or spout
6. the forward part of a vehicle, aircraft, etc, esp the front end of an aircraft
7. narrow margin of victory (in the phrase ( win ) by a nose )
8. cut off one's nose to spite one's face
   to carry out a vengeful action that hurts oneself more than another
9. get up someone's nose informal.
   to annoy or irritate someone
10. keep one's nose clean
    to stay out of trouble; behave properly
11. keep one's nose to the grindstone
    to work hard and continuously
12. lead someone by the nose
    to make someone do unquestioningly all one wishes; dominate someone
13. look down one's nose at informal.
    to be contemptuous or disdainful of
14. nose to tail
    (of vehicles) moving or standing very close behind one another
15. on the nose slang.
    1. (in horse-race betting) to win only

       I bet twenty pounds on the nose on that horse

    2. precisely; exactly
    3. bad or bad-smelling
16. pay through the nose informal.
    to pay an exorbitant price
17. poke one's nose into or stick one's nose into informal.
    to pry into or interfere in
18. put someone's nose out of joint informal.
    to thwart or offend someone, esp by supplanting him or gaining something he regards as his
19. rub someone's nose in it informal.
    to remind someone unkindly of his failing or error
20. see no further than one's nose or see no further than the end of one's nose informal.
    1. to be short-sighted; suffer from myopia
    2. to lack insight or foresight
21. turn up one's nose or turn up one's nose at something informal.
    to behave disdainfully towards (something)
22. under one's nose
    1. directly in front of one
    2. without one noticing
23. with one's nose in the air
    haughtily

verb

1. tr (esp of horses, dogs, etc) to rub, touch, or sniff with the nose; nuzzle
2. to smell or sniff (wine, etc)
3. intr; usually foll by after or for to search (for) by or as if by scent
4. to move or cause to move forwards slowly and carefully

   we nosed the car into the garage

   the car nosed along the cliff top

5. intr; foll by into, around, about, etc to pry or snoop (into) or meddle (in)

Derived Forms

• ˈnoseless, adjective
• ˈnoseˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• noseless adjective
• noselike adjective
• un·nosed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nose¹

before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English nosu; akin to Dutch neus, German Nase, Latin nāsus, Sanskrit nāsā

Word History and Origins

Origin of nose¹

Old English nosu; related to Old Frisian nose, Norwegian nosa to smell and nus smell

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. count noses, to count the number of people in attendance:

   Each time the troop left an exhibit the leader counted noses.

2. cut off one's nose to spite one's face, to create a disadvantage to oneself through one's own spiteful action.
3. follow one's nose,
   1. to go forward in a straight course.
   2. to guide oneself by instinct:

      I found the house by following my nose.

4. hold one's nose, to repress feelings of distaste, repulsion, or offense for something that one is obliged to do:

   He held his nose and voted for the bill.

5. keep one's nose clean, to behave oneself; avoid trouble or scandal:

   Did he keep his nose clean after he got out of prison?

6. lead (around) by the nose, to exercise complete control over; dominate totally:

   He lets his brother lead him by the nose.

7. look down one's nose at, to regard with disdain or condescension:

   He had always looked down his nose at those who were poorer than he.

8. on the nose, Informal.
   1. precisely, correctly, or perfectly.
   2. exactly on time:

      We made it at ten o'clock on the nose.

   3. (of a bet) for win only.
   4. Australian Informal. decayed or putrid; stinking.
   5. Australian Informal. distasteful or unpleasant; of doubtful validity or propriety.
9. pay through the nose, to pay an excessive price:

   They patronize small and exclusive shops where they cheerfully pay through the nose.

10. put someone's nose out of joint,
    1. to annoy or irritate greatly.
    2. to supersede a person in another's regard, devotion, etc.
    3. to thwart someone; spoil someone's plans.
11. rub someone's nose in, to persecute or tease someone persistently about; nag someone about:

    I know I was wrong but you don't have to rub my nose in it.

12. turn up one's nose at, to regard with contempt; scorn:

    My friend turns up his nose at anyone who hasn't had a college education.

13. under someone's nose, plainly visible to; in full view of; in bold defiance of: Also under someone's very nose.

    The theft took place right under the detective's nose.

14. keep one's nose to the grindstone. grindstone ( def 3 ).

More idioms and phrases containing nose

• brown nose
• can't see beyond the end of one's nose
• count noses
• cut off one's nose
• follow one's nose
• keep one's nose clean
• lead by the nose
• look down on (one's nose)
• no skin off my nose
• on the nose
• pay through the nose
• plain as day (the nose on your face)
• poke one's nose into
• rub someone's nose in it
• thumb one's nose
• turn up one's nose
• under one's nose
• win by a nose

Example Sentences

First a scaffold of cartilage, like the wobbly bit on the end of your nose, forms.

From BBC

It’s 75 feet from nose to end, longer than the letters in the Hollywood sign are tall.

From Los Angeles Times

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. and his allies turned their nose up at the chance to bar Trump from ever running for office again after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

From Salon

After the discovery of a tumour which had grown into bone and nerves, surgeons removed her cheekbone and part of her nose, with her eye later requiring removal.

From BBC

And while everyone at the church turns up their noses at the Herdmans, it’s plainly obvious the kids are suffering from neglect.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• pry
• sniff
• snoop