nose

1 of 2

noun

ˈnōz 

1

a

: the part of the face that bears the nostrils and covers the anterior part of the nasal cavity

broadly : this part together with the nasal cavity

b

: the anterior part of the head at the top or end of the muzzle : snout, proboscis

2

a

: the sense of smell : olfaction

b

: aroma, bouquet

3

: the vertebrate olfactory organ

4

a

: the forward end or projection of something

b

: the projecting or working end of a tool

5

: the stem of a boat or its protective metal covering

6

a

: the nose as a symbol of prying or meddling curiosity or interference

b

: a knack for discovery or understanding

a keen nose for absurdity

nose

2 of 2

verb

nosed; nosing

transitive verb

1

: to detect by or as if by smell : scent

2

a

: to push or move with the nose

b

: to move (something, such as a vehicle) ahead slowly or cautiously

nosed my car into the parking space

3

: to touch or rub with the nose : nuzzle

intransitive verb

1

: to use the nose in examining, smelling, or showing affection

2

a

: to search impertinently : pry

b

: poke sense 2a

3

: to move ahead slowly or cautiously

the boat nosed around the bend

4

: to move the forward end in a specified direction

the plane nosed up

5

: to advance into a slight lead

Phrases

on the nose

1

a

: at or to a target point

the bombs landed right on the nose

b(1)

: on target : accurate

(2)

: accurately

2

: to win

—used of horse or dog racing bets

under one's nose

: extremely near to one

the answer was right under our noses

also : brazenly in or as if in one's presence

embezzling funds right under his nose

Synonyms

Noun

• beak
• conk [chiefly British slang]
• honker [slang]
• neb
• nozzle [slang]
• proboscis
• schnoz [slang]
• schnozz
• schnozzle [slang]
• smeller
• snoot
• snout

Verb

• scent
• smell
• sniff
• snuff
• whiff

Examples of nose in a Sentence

Noun

The ball hit me right on the nose.

You need to wipe your nose.

I have a runny nose.

the long nose of the anteater

He got some water up his nose.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

That dog has a good nose.

The whale measures 40 feet from nose to tail.

Verb

The horse nosed my hand.

Some animal must have nosed the lid off the garbage can.

The dog nosed the door open.

The dogs were nosing around in the garbage.

The boat nosed around the bend.

I nosed my car into the parking space.

The car nosed its way into the street.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Share [Findings] Arson dogs’ noses remain better than lab equipment at detecting certain accelerants. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

The nose of the vehicle features a badge finished in silver with guilloche mother of pearl and an 18-karat gold Jaguar logo. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

Tracking data show the plane, owned by 73-year-old pilot Ali Safai, climbed to 75 feet above the runway, veered right and then nosed into a sudden, terrifyingly steep dive. —Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024

For years, booking a traditional moving company has meant inviting countless strangers into your home to nose through your belongings, write out itemized lists, and take inventory for each company — and that’s all just to get a quote. —Chris Gallagher, Detroit Free Press, 11 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English nosu; akin to Old High German nasa nose, Latin nasus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing nose

• (as) plain as the nose on your face
• button nose
• by a nose
• cut off one's nose to spite one's face
• follow one's nose
• get up someone's nose
• have/get one's nose/snout in the trough
• have one's nose in
• have one's nose in the air
• hit it on the nose
• hold one's nose
• keep one's nose clean
• keep one's nose out of
• keep one's nose to the grindstone
• lead someone (around) by the nose
• look down one's nose
• look down one's nose at
• needle-nose pliers
• nose about
• nose around
• nose bag
• nose cone
• nose for
• nose job
• nose out
• nose out of joint
• nose ring
• nose tackle
• nose to tail
• no skin off someone's nose
• one's nose is to the grindstone
• pay through the nose
• powder one's nose
• pug nose
• (right) under someone's nose
• Roman nose
• rub one's nose in
• rub someone's nose in
• stick/poke one's nose in/into
• thumb one's nose
• thumb one's nose at
• turn one's nose up
• turn up one's nose
• with one's nose in the air

Kids Definition

nose

1 of 2 noun

ˈnōz 

1

a

: the part of the face or head that contains the nostrils and covers the front or outer part of the nasal cavity

also : this part together with the nasal cavity

b

: the front part of the head above or sticking out beyond the jaws

the length of a whale from the tip of the nose to the middle of the tail

2

: the sense of smell

3

: the organ of smell of a vertebrate

4

: something (as a point, edge, or projection) like a nose

the nose of a plane

5

: an ability to discover

a nose for news

nosed

ˈnōzd

adjective

nose

2 of 2 verb

nosed; nosing

1

: to detect by or as if by smell : scent

2

: to push or move with the nose

3

: to touch or rub with the nose : nuzzle

4

: to search especially into other peoples' business : pry

5

: to move ahead slowly or cautiously

the boat nosed around the bend

Medical Definition

nose

noun

ˈnōz 

1

a

: the part of the face that bears the nostrils and covers the anterior part of the nasal cavity

broadly : this part together with the nasal cavity

b

: the anterior part of the head above or projecting beyond the muzzle

2

: the sense of smell : olfaction

3

: olfactory organ