nose

The part in the middle of your face that you breathe through and use to smell things.

• My nose is cold.
• He blew his nose into a tissue.
• Can you breathe through your nose?

Common phrases: blow your nose, a runny nose, a blocked nose, nose bleed

The front end or pointed tip of an object, especially a plane or vehicle.

• The plane's nose pointed down.
• They painted the nose of the aircraft red.
• The two boats touched noses at the dock.

Similar words: front, tip

Common phrases: nose of something, aircraft nose, nose cone, nose wheel

The ability to recognize and judge smells, especially those of wine.

• A wine taster needs a good nose.
• His trained nose detected a hint of smoke.
• She developed her nose by comparing different wines.

How to use it: a nose for something (She has an excellent nose for fine wines.)

Similar words: sense of smell

Common phrases: a good nose, nose for wine, a trained nose

To move slowly and carefully, with the front part going first.

• The car nosed forward slowly.
• Our boat nosed into the harbour.
• She nosed the van through the crowded street.

How to use it: nose into/through something (The boat nosed through a narrow gap.)

Similar words: edge, inch

Common phrases: nose through traffic, nose into something, nose forward, nose past something

To try to discover private information about other people or things that do not concern you.

• Don't nose around in my room.
• He was nosing into his neighbours' business.
• Why are you nosing about here?

How to use it: nose around/about (Someone has been nosing around in my office.); nose into something (Stop nosing into my private affairs.)

Similar words: snoop, pry

Common phrases: nose around, nose about, nose into something

To push or gently touch something with the part of the face used for smelling.

• The puppy nosed my hand.
• The horse nosed the gate open.
• Our dog was nosing an empty bowl across the floor.

Similar words: nuzzle, nudge

Common phrases: nose someone's hand, nose something aside, nose the door

To move with the front of a plane or ship pointing in a particular direction.

• The plane began to nose up.
• The ship nosed south towards open water.
• The pilot nosed the aircraft down for landing.

How to use it: nose up/down/towards something (The plane nosed down towards the valley.)

Common phrases: nose up, nose down, nose towards something

To say words in a voice that sounds as if it comes through the part used for smelling.

• He nosed a short prayer.
• The clerk nosed each word in a thin voice.
• She was nosing the final verse of the hymn.

Similar words: intonate nasally

Common phrases: nose a prayer, nose the words