head-v; 6 Senses

Sense Number 1: move or cause to move towards, direct, steer

Commentary: Syntax Includes: NP1[agent] HEAD PP{P NP[location]} NP1[topic] HEAD PP{P NP[location]}
NOTE: location can be physical or abstract

Examples:
The cows are heading to the barn.
Mary headed the cows into the barn.
Senator Smith is heading south according to the polls.
He is heading his firm into bankruptcy on the present course.
He headed his sailboat towards the harbor.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: Self_motion
PropBank: head.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 5

Sense Number 2: to precede others

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[attribute] HEAD NP2
NOTE: the subject NP is a member of a set, the first member usually
NOTE: 'head' functions more as an attribute of the subject than an action Includes: HEAD UP

Examples:
Tonight's festivities will be headed by a speech from John.
Who will be heading the new public works project?
Mary's daughter heads her class at medical school.
This list is headed by the name of the managing director.
She headed up the committee on town zoning for many years.

Mappings:
VerbNet: contiguous_location-47.8
FrameNet: Leadership
PropBank: head.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 3, 4, 7
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
head_up 1

Sense Number 3: originate or have a source

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[topic] HEAD PP{P NP[source]}

Examples:
This river heads from the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
His current behavior heads strongly from an unhappy childhood.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 6

Sense Number 4: form or develop a head, as in grain

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[topic] HEAD[intransitive]

Examples:
The wheat headed early this year.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 8

Sense Number 5: remove or lop off

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] HEAD NP2[patient]

Examples:
After you head the fish, remove the entrails.
The child was scolded for heading the rosebuds off Aunt Lily's prize bush.

Mappings:
VerbNet: pit-10.7
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 9

Sense Number 6: prevent, avert, deflect something

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] HEAD OFF NP2[goal] Is: HEAD OFF

Examples:
They headed off the mechanics strike by skillful negotiations.
Let's head them off at the pass before they rob the train!
These measures were intended to head off a collapse of their currency.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: head.03
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
head_off 1