nose Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
    olfactory organ.
    • he has a cold in the nose
  2. noun a front that resembles a human nose (especially the front of an aircraft)
    • the nose of the rocket heated up on reentry
  3. noun the front or forward projection of a tool or weapon
    • he ducked under the nose of the gun
  4. noun a small distance
    • my horse lost the race by a nose
  5. noun a symbol of inquisitiveness
    • keep your nose out of it
  6. noun the sense of smell (especially in animals)
    • the hound has a good nose
  7. noun a natural skill
    • he has a nose for good deals
  8. noun a projecting spout from which a fluid is discharged
    nozzle.
  9. verb search or inquire in a meddlesome way
    horn in; intrude; poke; pry.
    • This guy is always nosing around the office
  10. verb advance the forward part of with caution
    • She nosed the car into the left lane
  11. verb catch the scent of; get wind of
    scent; wind.
    • The dog nosed out the drugs
  12. verb push or move with the nose
  13. verb rub noses
    nuzzle.
  14. verb defeat by a narrow margin

WordNet

Nose noun
Etymology
AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. nös, Sw. näsa, Dan. näse, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos', L. nasus, nares, Skr. nasa, nas. Cf. Nasal, Nasturtium, Naze, Nostril, Nozzle.
Definitions
  1. (Anat.) The prominent part of the face or anterior extremity of the head containing the nostrils and olfactory cavities; the olfactory organ. See Nostril, and Olfactory organ under Olfactory.
  2. The power of smelling; hence, scent.
    We are not offended with a dog for a better nose than his master. Collier.
  3. A projecting end or beak at the front of an object; a snout; a nozzle; a spout; as, the nose of a bellows; the nose of a teakettle. on the nose, (a) exactly, accurately; (b) (racing) to win, opposed to "to place" or "to show"
Nose transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Nosed ; present participle & verbal noun Nosing
Definitions
  1. To smell; to scent; hence, to track, or trace out.
  2. To touch with the nose; to push the nose into or against; hence, to interfere with; to treat insolently.
    Lambs . . . nosing the mother's udder. Tennyson.
    A sort of national convention, dubious in its nature . . . nosed Parliament in the very seat of its authority. Burke.
  3. To utter in a nasal manner; to pronounce with a nasal twang; as, to nose a prayer. R. Cowley. nose around, to look around, search
Nose intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To smell; to sniff; to scent. Audubon.
  2. To pry officiously into what does not concern one.

Webster 1913