headless

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈhɛdləs/ UK /ˈhedləs/ See IPA manual

Freq #15965

Meanings

1

adj
having no head or top, especially because the head has been removed

The archaeologists found a headless statue near the ruined temple.
2

adj
lacking a leader or effective direction

After the resignation, the organization was temporarily headless.
3

adj
operating without a monitor, keyboard, or graphical interface

The headless server is administered remotely from another computer.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having no head or top,... beheaded decapitatedacephalous

2 adj · lacking a leader or... leaderlessrudderlessunguided

3 adj · operating without a... screenlessunattended

Opposites

headed

Word family

Derived forms headlesslyheadlessness

Related forms head behead decapitate leaderlessheadless server

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

headless horseman
a rider depicted as having no head

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English heedles and hevedles, from Old English heafodleas, formed from heafod ('head') + leas ('without'). The literal sense is ancient; later figurative uses describe something without leadership, and modern computing uses apply it to systems without attached input or display devices.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# headless

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈhɛdləs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈhedləs/
**Frequency rank:** 15965

## Meanings
1. having no head or top, especially because the head has been removed
2. lacking a leader or effective direction
3. operating without a monitor, keyboard, or graphical interface

## Examples
- The archaeologists found a headless statue near the ruined temple.
- After the resignation, the organization was temporarily headless.
- The headless server is administered remotely from another computer.

## Synonyms
- beheaded
- decapitated
- leaderless
- rudderless

## Antonyms
- headed

## Derived Forms
- headlessly
- headlessness

## Related Forms
- head
- behead
- decapitate
- leaderless
- headless server

## Etymology
From Middle English heedles and hevedles, from Old English heafodleas, formed from heafod ('head') + leas ('without'). The literal sense is ancient; later figurative uses describe something without leadership, and modern computing uses apply it to systems without attached input or display devices.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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