headless
/'hedlis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking intelligence or good sense; foolish or thoughtless: Used to describe actions or behavior that are not guided by reason or careful consideration.
- Without a head; having no head: Describes a physical state of lacking a head, either literally (as in a decapitated body) or figuratively (as in an object not designed with a distinct head).
- Having the top or leading part missing: Can describe objects where the primary or terminal part is absent.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The company's headless rush into the new market led to significant losses. (Describing a foolish, unthinking action.)
- The archaeologists discovered a headless statue from the ancient civilization. (Describing a physical object missing its head.)
- He was running around like a headless chicken trying to meet the deadline. (Describing frantic, disorganized behavior.)
- Brads are headless nails used in carpentry. (Describing an object type designed without a distinct head.)
Advanced Usage
"headless chicken": A metaphor for someone acting in a frantic, panicked, and disorganized manner, without clear thought or direction.
- After the system crashed, the IT team was running around like headless chickens.
"headless state": In technology, can refer to a system or architecture (e.g., headless CMS) that operates without a front-end presentation layer, managing only content or data.
- The application uses a headless commerce platform to manage its product data.
Variants and Related Words
Headlessly (adverb): In a headless manner; without intelligence or direction.
- The project proceeded headlessly, with no clear plan.
Headlessness (noun): The state or quality of being headless, either literally or figuratively.
- The headlessness of the organization was evident in its conflicting directives.
Synonyms
- Brainless: Utterly foolish or stupid.
- Senseless: Lacking common sense or good judgment.
- Decapitated: Having had the head cut off (specifically for the literal meaning).
- Acephalous: (Technical/Biological) Having no head.
Related Phrases
- Like a headless chicken: Behaving in a wild, panicked, and aimless way.
- Without the manager, the staff worked like headless chickens.
Related Idioms
- To run around like a headless chicken: To act with frantic energy but without purpose, control, or sensible direction.
- On the day of the wedding, the groom was running around like a headless chicken.
Adjective
- not using intelligence
- not having a head or formed without a head
- the headless horseman
- brads are headless nails