head (v)

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the usage of the verbs in bold in the following sentences?

When the president died the vice president was chosen to head the firm.

head = be at the head of; manage; spearhead

The Cambridge crew took the lead from the first, were never headed, and won by upwards of three lengths.

head = lead; precede

At the last general election Mr. L. headed the poll with 4,159 votes.

head = be first in a list

I swung my bag to my shoulder and headed for the door.

They headed their boat west.

head = direct

When the rain stops let's head for the picnic grounds.

head = steer, aim

He has to cover his face with a muffler, and head the driving snow.

head = collide; face

You're heading for an accident if you drive after drinking alcohol.

head = risk

It is shorter to cross a stream than to head it.

head = walk round

A broad river, that heads in the great Blue Ridge.

head = to spring; to have its source, as a river

This kind of cabbage heads early.

head = to form a head

V.

[Barb_D]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the usage of the verbs in bold in the following sentences?

When the president died the vice president was chosen to head the firm.

head = be at the head of; manage; spearhead Yes

The Cambridge crew took the lead from the first, were never headed, and won by upwards of three lengths.

head = lead; precede This is not a use I'm familiar with. I assume your reading is correct, but I've never read this and I wouldn't use it. I don't have a single-word replacement. And I would know what was meant.

At the last general election Mr. L. headed the poll with 4,159 votes.

head = be first in a list Also not a use I'm familiar with. I'd say "led" here. However, I'd know what was meant.

I swung my bag to my shoulder and headed for the door.

They headed their boat west.

head = direct

When the rain stops let's head for the picnic grounds.

head = steer, aim
These two are the same, but aimed, steered, or directed, but with the added idea of motion.

He has to cover his face with a muffler, and head the driving snow.

head = collide; face
Also not a use I'm familiar with. I'd guess it meant what you've written from the context.

You're heading for an accident if you drive after drinking alcohol.

head = risk
This to me is the same as the steer, aim, directed for

It is shorter to cross a stream than to head it.

head = walk round

Also not a use I'm familiar with, and I actually wouldn't be sure what was meant.

A broad river, that heads in the great Blue Ridge.

head = to spring; to have its source, as a river
I'd understand this, though I'd say "originates." On the other hand, we talk about "headwaters." It's just using it as a verb that is not familiar to me.

This kind of cabbage heads early.

head = to form a head
I've never seen it used as a verb like this.

V.

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just trying to give you a sense of what I've seen actually used.

[konungursvia]

I'd say were never overtaken, for the Cambridge rowers' sentence.

[vil]

Hi Barb D and konungursvia,

Thank you for your helpful comments.

V.