He has a big nose.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
nose
noun
1 the part of your face, above your mouth, that you use for breathing and smelling:
Blow your nose! (= Clear your nose by blowing through it.)
2 the front part of a plane
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
nose
I. nose1 S2 W2 /nəʊz $ noʊz/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: nosu]
1. ON YOUR FACE [countable] the part of a person’s or animal’s face used for smelling or breathing ⇨ nasal, nostril:
Someone punched him on the nose.
2. (right) under sb’s nose
a) if something bad or illegal happens under someone’s nose, they do not notice it even though it is happening very close to them and they should have noticed it:
The drugs were smuggled in right under the noses of the security guards.
b) if something is right under someone’s nose, they cannot see it even though it is very close to them:
The key was right under my nose all the time.
3. stick/poke your nose into something to become involved in something that does not concern you, in a way that annoys people ⇨ nosy:
She always has to stick her nose into matters that do not concern her.
4. keep your nose out (of something) spoken to avoid becoming involved in something that does not concern you:
I wish he’d keep his nose out of my business!
5. turn your nose up (at something) informal to refuse to accept something because you do not think it is good enough for you:
My children turn their noses up at home cooking.
6. with your nose in the air behaving as if you are more important than other people and not talking to them:
She just walked past with her nose in the air.
7. have a (good) nose for something to be naturally good at finding and recognizing something:
a reporter with a good nose for a story
8. get (right) up sb’s nose British English spoken to annoy someone very much:
I wish he wouldn’t keep interrupting. It really gets up my nose.
9. keep your nose clean spoken to make sure you do not get into trouble, or do anything wrong or illegal:
Sid’s got to keep his nose clean or he’ll end up back in prison.
10. on the nose American English spoken exactly:
He gets up at 6 a.m. on the nose every morning.
11. keep your nose to the grindstone informal to work very hard, without stopping to rest:
Jim had decided he was going to keep his nose to the grindstone.
12. have your nose in a book/magazine/newspaper to be reading a book etc, especially with a lot of interest:
She always had her nose in a book.
13. by a nose if a horse wins a race by a nose, it only just wins
14. have a nose around British English spoken to look around a place in order to try to find something, when there is no one else there
15. put sb’s nose out of joint informal to annoy someone, especially by attracting everyone’s attention away from them:
His nose has been put a bit out of joint ever since Marion got here.
16. nose to tail especially British English cars, buses etc that are nose to tail are in a line without much space between them:
Traffic was nose to tail for three miles.
17. PLANE [countable] the pointed front end of a plane, ↑rocket etc
18. SMELL [singular] the smell of a wine or tobacco SYN bouquet
⇨ ↑hard-nosed, ↑brown-nose, ⇨ cut off your nose to spite your face at CUT OFF(10), ⇨ ↑nose job, ⇨ lead somebody by the nose at ↑lead1(16), ⇨ look down your nose at somebody/something at ↑look1(8), ⇨ pay through the nose at ↑pay1(16), ⇨ as plain as the nose on your face at ↑plain1(1), ⇨ poke your nose into something at ↑poke1(7), ⇨ powder your nose at ↑powder2(2), ⇨ rub sb’s nose in it/in the dirt at ↑rub1(9), ⇨ thumb your nose at somebody/something at ↑thumb2(2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ big See that guy over there, the one with the big nose?
▪ small She had high cheekbones and a small nose.
▪ long His nose was long and his chin square.
▪ straight Her nose was long, straight and elegant.
▪ runny (=with liquid coming out) A runny nose may be the result of an allergic reaction.
▪ snotty (=with unpleasant thick liquid coming out) a group of dirty children with snotty noses
▪ blocked (=so that you cannot breathe easily) My nose is really blocked and I can't smell anything.
▪ red (=because you are cold or drunk, or have a cold) His nose was red from the cold.
▪ a snub/turned-up nose (=one that curves up at the end) She had big eyes and a turned-up nose.
▪ a hooked nose (=one that curves down at the end) an old man with a hooked nose
▪ a Roman/aquiline nose formal (=one that curves out near the top) He had a thin face with an aquiline nose.
▪ a broken nose (=one that is not straight because the bone has been broken by a hit or fall) a boxer with a broken nose
■ verbs
▪ blow your nose (=clear your nose by blowing strongly into a piece of soft paper or cloth) She blew her nose on a large white handkerchief.
▪ wipe your nose (=wipe liquid away from your nose) The boy wiped his nose on his sleeve.
▪ pick your nose (=remove substances from inside your nose with your finger) Stop picking your nose, Freddy.
▪ wrinkle your nose (=move the muscles near your nose when you do not like something) Susan looked at the meal and wrinkled her nose.
▪ hold your nose (=so that you cannot smell a bad smell) The smell was so revolting that I had to hold my nose.
▪ breathe through your nose Close your eyes and breathe through your nose.
▪ somebody's nose is running (=liquid is coming out) She was crying hard and her nose was running.
■ phrases
▪ the bridge of your nose (=the upper part, between your eyes) Sam pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
nose
nose [nose noses nosed nosing] noun, verb [nəʊz] [noʊz]
noun
1. countable the part of the face that sticks out above the mouth, used for breathing and smelling things
• He broke his nose in the fight.
• She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
• He pressed his nose up against the window.
• He blew his nose (= cleared it by blowing strongly into a handkerchief ).
• a blocked/runny nose
• Stop picking your nose! (= removing dirt from it with your finger)
see also nasal, parson's nose, Roman nose
2. -nosed (in adjectives) having the type of nose mentioned
• red-nosed
• large-nosed
see also hard-nosed, toffee-nosed
3. countable the front part of a plane, spacecraft, etc
• Heat detectors are fitted in the nose of the missile.
4. singular a ~ for sth a special ability for finding or recognizing sth
Syn: instinct
• As a journalist, she has always had a nose for a good story.
5. singular a sense of smell
• a dog with a good nose
6. singular (of wine) a characteristic smell
Syn: bouquet
more at follow your nose at follow, lead sb by the nose at lead1 v., pay through the nose at pay v., (as) plain as the nose on your face at plain adj., powder your nose at powder v., rub sb's nose in it at rub v., it's no skin off my, your, his, etc. nose at skin n., thumb your nose at sb/sth at thumb v.
Word Origin:
Old English nosu, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch neus, and more remotely to German Nase, Latin nasus, and Sanskrit nāsā.
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Example Bank:
• Cats have very sensitive noses and rely heavily on scent markings.
• Charlie pressed his nose against the window.
• He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
• He pushed the nose down for the final approach.
• He stuck his bulbous red nose back into his pint of beer.
• He tapped his nose in a knowing gesture.
• His nose wrinkled with distaste.
• I had to wear a black moustache and false nose for the role.
• People who live in that area tend to look down their noses at their poorer neighbours.
• She dressed up as a clown with a white face and red nose.
• She had dark eyes and a long narrow nose.
• She had to wear a false nose for the role.
• She walked in with her nose in the air, ignoring everyone.
• She walked with her shoulders back and her nose pointing skyward.
• She was weeping loudly and her nose was running.
• She wasn't happy with her appearance so she had a nose job.
• She wrinkled her nose as if she had just smelled a bad smell.
• Stop poking your nose into my business!
• The boy sat there with his finger up his nose.
• The children turn up their noses at almost everything I cook.
• The dog pushed its wet nose into my palm.
• The plane's nose dipped as it started descending towards the runway.
• The sharp nose and thin lips gave his face a very harsh look.
• The traffic was nose to tail for miles.
• They tend to look down their noses at people who drive small cars.
• They thumb their noses at all of our traditions.
• a child with a runny nose
Idioms: cut off your nose to spite your face ▪ get up somebody's nose ▪ have a nose round ▪ have your nose in something ▪ keep your nose clean ▪ keep your nose out of something ▪ keep your nose to the grindstone ▪ look down your nose at somebody ▪ nose to tail ▪ on the nose ▪ poke your nose into something ▪ put somebody's nose out of joint ▪ turn your nose up at something ▪ under somebody's nose ▪ with your nose in the air
Derived: nose about ▪ nose something out
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
nose / nəʊz / / noʊz / noun [ C ] (BODY PART)
A1 the part of the face that sticks out above the mouth, through which you breathe and smell:
a large/long/pointed nose
I've got a sore throat and a runny nose (= liquid coming out of the nose) .
Come on now, stop crying - blow your nose on my hanky.
→ See also nasal
See picture nose
specialized the particular smell of a wine:
a wine praised for its smoky nose
nose / nəʊz / / noʊz / noun [ C ] (VEHICLE)
the front of a vehicle, especially an aircraft:
The symbol was painted on each side of the plane's nose.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
nose
/noʊz/
(noses, nosing, nosed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Your nose is the part of your face which sticks out above your mouth. You use it for smelling and breathing.
She wiped her nose with a tissue...
She’s got funny eyes and a big nose.
N-COUNT: oft poss N
2.
The nose of a vehicle such as a car or aeroplane is the front part of it.
Sue parked off the main street, with the van’s nose pointing away from the street.
N-COUNT: oft poss N
3.
You can refer to your sense of smell as your nose.
The river that runs through Middlesbrough became ugly on the eye and hard on the nose.
N-COUNT
4.
If a vehicle noses in a certain direction or if you nose it there, you move it slowly and carefully in that direction.
He could not see the driver as the car nosed forward...
Ben drove past them, nosing his car into the garage.
VERB: V adv/prep, V n prep/adv
5.
see also hard-nosed, toffee-nosed
6.
If you keep your nose clean, you behave well and stay out of trouble. (INFORMAL)
If you kept your nose clean, you had a job for life.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
7.
If you follow your nose to get to a place, you go straight ahead or follow the most obvious route.
Just follow your nose and in about five minutes you’re at the old railway.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
8.
If you follow your nose, you do something in a particular way because you feel it should be done like that, rather than because you are following any plan or rules.
You won’t have to think, just follow your nose.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
9.
If you say that someone has a nose for something, you mean that they have a natural ability to find it or recognize it.
He had a nose for trouble and a brilliant tactical mind...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
10.
If you say that someone or something gets up your nose, you mean that they annoy you. (BRIT INFORMAL)
He’s just getting up my nose so much at the moment.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
11.
If you say that someone looks down their nose at something or someone, you mean that they believe they are superior to that person or thing and treat them with disrespect.
They rather looked down their noses at anyone who couldn’t speak French.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR at n [disapproval]
12.
If you say that you paid through the nose for something, you are emphasizing that you had to pay what you consider too high a price for it. (INFORMAL)
We don’t like paying through the nose for our wine when eating out.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n [emphasis]
13.
If someone pokes their nose into something or sticks their nose into something, they try to interfere with it even though it does not concern them. (INFORMAL)
We don’t like strangers who poke their noses into our affairs...
Why did you have to stick your nose in?
= meddle
PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n [disapproval]
14.
To rub someone’s nose in something that they do not want to think about, such as a failing or a mistake they have made, means to remind them repeatedly about it. (INFORMAL)
His enemies will attempt to rub his nose in past policy statements.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n
15.
If you say that someone is cutting off their nose to spite their face, you mean they do something that they think will hurt someone, without realizing or caring that it will hurt themselves as well.
There is evidence that the industry’s greed means that it is cutting off its nose to spite its face.
PHRASE: V inflects [disapproval]
16.
If vehicles are nose to tail, the front of one vehicle is close behind the back of another. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use bumper-to-bumper)
...a line of about twenty fast-moving trucks driving nose to tail.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v
17.
If you thumb your nose at someone, you behave in a way that shows that you do not care what they think.
He has always thumbed his nose at the media.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR at n
18.
If you turn up your nose at something, you reject it because you think that it is not good enough for you.
I’m not in a financial position to turn up my nose at several hundred thousand pounds.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR at n
19.
If you do something under someone’s nose, you do it right in front of them, without trying to hide it from them.
Okay so have an affair, but not right under my nose.
PHRASE: N inflects
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1nose /ˈnoʊz/ noun, pl nos·es
1 [count] : the part of the face or head through which a person or animal smells and breathes
• The ball hit me right on/in the nose.
• You need to wipe/blow your nose.
• Stop picking your nose.
• I have a runny/stuffy nose.
• the long nose of the anteater
• He got some water up his nose.
• She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
- see picture at face
2 [singular] : the ability to smell things : the sense of smell
• That dog has a good nose.
- often used figuratively
• He is a good reporter with a nose for news. [=he's a reporter who is good at finding news]
• a baseball scout with a nose for talent [=a scout who is good at finding new talent]
3 : the front end or part of something
[count]
- usually singular
• the nose of an airplane
[noncount]
• The whale measures 40 feet from nose to tail.
• (Brit) The cars were nose to tail [=(US) bumper-to-bumper] on the highway today.
- see picture at face
4 [singular] of wine : a particular smell
• The wine has a lovely nose. [=bouquet]
as plain as the nose on your face informal : very clear or obvious
• The solution is as plain as the nose on your face.
by a nose
✦If an animal wins a race by a nose, it wins by a very short distance.
• Secretariat won the race by a nose!
cut off your nose to spite your face : to do something that is meant to harm someone else but that also harms you
• You can refuse to talk to her if you like, but you're just cutting off your nose to spite your face.
follow your nose
- see follow
get up someone's nose Brit informal : to annoy or irritate (someone)
• His jokes are really beginning to get up my nose. [=(US) get on my nerves]
have your nose in
✦If you have your nose in a book, magazine, newspaper, etc., you are reading it.
• It seems like she always has her nose in a book [=she's always reading a book] whenever I see her.
hold your nose : to hold your nostrils together so that you cannot smell something
• The smell was so bad that we had to hold our noses.
keep your nose clean : to stay out of trouble by behaving well
• He is a former criminal who has kept his nose clean since he got out of prison.
keep your nose out of : to avoid becoming involved in (someone else's situation, problem, etc.)
• It's not your problem, so keep your nose out of it.
lead someone (around) by the nose informal : to completely control a person
• I'm amazed that he lets them lead him around by the nose like that.
look down your nose at
- see 1look
nose in the air
✦If you have your nose in the air, you behave in a way that shows you think you are better than other people.
• She walks around with her nose in the air like she's some big shot.
nose to the grindstone
- see grindstone
no skin off my nose
- see 1skin
on the nose informal : very accurate : done very accurately
• You hit it on the nose. [=you are exactly right]
• Her prediction was right on the nose.
pay through the nose informal : to pay a very high price
• I found the perfect dress, but I paid through the nose for it.
powder your nose
- see 2powder
rub someone's nose in
- see 1rub
stick/poke your nose in/into : to get involved in or want information about (something that does not concern you)
• He's always poking his nose into other people's business.
thumb your nose at
- see 2thumb
turn up your nose or turn your nose up : to refuse to take or accept something because it is not good enough
• I offered the cat some food, but it turned up its nose and walked away.
- usually + at
• They turned up their nose at our offer. [=they rejected our offer]
under your nose
- used to describe something that you fail to see or notice even though you should
• I don't know why you couldn't find it—it's right here under your nose.
• They were embezzling funds right under his nose.
• The answer was right under our noses [=the answer was very obvious] the whole time.