nose

1 of 2

noun

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
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
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)
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

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
The respiratory virus transmits through droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected people, which can land directly on someone else’s nose or mouth or be spread through touching contaminated surfaces. Katia Hetter, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 The friend found Miller unresponsive, thrust naloxone — the opioid overdose reversal medication — up his nose and dialed 911. Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024 If this is a little too slow for your taste, rig a seedless worm like the Zoom Speed Worm with a 1/16th-ounce bullet weight at the nose. Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 13 Mar. 2024 They're guided by a secret culture and training passed down through generations, as well as by the noses of their cherished and expertly trained dogs. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program asks arriving international passengers to volunteer to have their noses swabbed and answer questions about their travel. Mike Stobbe, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024 Although one study from Denmark reported that antigen tests were more sensitive when a health care provider swabbed the throat, the same study said that when a person swabbed themselves, nose samples were more accurate than throat samples. Anuradha Rao, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024 Roughly a day after the fever sets in come the three C’s of measles: cough, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and coryza (a runny nose). Aria Bendix, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 Sweeney, also wandering around set, has her nose stuck between the pages of a book titled Kafka on the Shore, which happens to be a real 2002 novel written by Haruki Murakami. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
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, 23 Feb. 2024 Unable to nose any farther forward, the agents piled out of the first and third SUV and tried to subdue the crowd. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024 Shares of Netflix nosed up around 0.3% in midmorning trading. Todd Spangler, Variety, 23 Jan. 2024 Her job involves everything from nosing whiskies (to build up her knowledge for creating both classic and new blends) to helping select casks for some of The Balvenie’s oldest and rarest bottlings. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023 Semi trucks were still making deliveries to the plant, slowly nosing forward through the picket. Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023 The Flatiron Building, whose prow has nosed up Broadway across 23rd Street since its completion in 1902, has housed its last office tenant and is going residential, The Real Deal first reported this morning. Curbed, 26 Oct. 2023 Powerful high pressure to the west should nose into the area. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023 Powell watched through the screen as the fish nosed down on her soft plastic bait and then turned away. Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 28 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of nose was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near nose

Cite this Entry

“Nose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nose. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nose

1 of 2 noun
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on nose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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