¦ noun
1. the part projecting above the mouth on the face of a person or animal, containing the nostrils and used in breathing and smelling.
2. a person's or animal's sense of smell.
the aroma of a particular substance, especially wine.
an instinctive talent for detecting something: he has a nose for a good script.
3. the front end of an aircraft, car, or other vehicle.
a projecting participle
4. an act of looking around or prying: she wanted a good nose round the house.
5. informal a police informer.
¦ verb
1. (of an animal) thrust its nose against or into something.
smell or sniff (something).
2. look around or pry into something.
3. make one's way slowly ahead, especially in a vehicle.
Phrases
by a nose (of a victory) by a very narrow margin.
cut off one's nose to spite one's face disadvantage oneself through a wilful attempt to gain an advantage or assert oneself.
get up someone's nose Brit. informal irritate or annoy someone.
give someone a bloody nose inflict a resounding defeat on someone.
keep one's nose clean informal stay out of trouble.
keep one's nose out of refrain from interfering in.
nose to tail Brit. (of vehicles) moving or standing close behind one another.
not see further than one's (or the end of one's) nose fail to consider different possibilities or to foresee consequences.
on the nose
1. to a person's sense of smell.
2. informal (of a bet) on a horse to win (as opposed to being placed).
3. informal, chiefly N. Amer. precisely.
4. Austral./NZ informal distasteful; offensive.
put someone's nose out of joint informal offend someone or hurt their pride.
turn one's nose up at informal show distaste or contempt for.
under someone's nose informal directly in front of someone.
with one's nose in the air haughtily.
Derivatives
-nosed adjective
noseless adjective
Origin
OE nosu, of W. Gmc origin.