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heading

/ˈhɛdɪŋ/

/ˈhɛdɪŋ/

Other forms: headings

A heading is a word, phrase, or sentence at the beginning of a written passage that explains what it's about. A heading is very similar to a title.

A heading is similar to a caption, a line below a photograph that briefly explains it. Headings show up at the top of paragraphs, chapters, or pages, and they give you an idea of what the subject is. You might write a heading for each chapter of your novel, or on each page of your French club newsletter. The 1300's meaning of heading was "beheading," and it wasn't until the late 1800's that it came to mean "title."

Definitions of heading
  1. noun
    a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
    synonyms: head, header
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    types:
    show 12 types...
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    crosshead, crossheading
    a heading of a subsection printed within the body of the text
    headline, newspaper headline
    the heading or caption of a newspaper article
    lemma
    the heading that indicates the subject of an annotation or a literary composition or a dictionary entry
    rubric
    a title or heading that is printed in red or in a special type
    running head, running headline
    a heading printed at the top of every page (or every other page) of a book
    subhead, subheading
    a heading of a subdivision of a text
    rubric, statute title, title
    a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with
    running title
    the title (or a shortened title) of a book used as a running head
    drop line, dropline, stagger head, staggered head, stephead, stepped line
    a headline with the top line flush left and succeeding lines indented to the right
    screamer
    a sensational newspaper headline
    banner, streamer
    a newspaper headline that runs across the full page
    title
    a general or descriptive heading for a section of a written work
    type of:
    line
    text consisting of a row of words written across a page or computer screen
  2. noun
    the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies
    synonyms: aim, bearing
    see moresee less
    types:
    tack
    the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails
    type of:
    direction, way
    a line leading to a place or point
  3. noun
    a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
    synonyms: drift, gallery
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    type of:
    passageway
    a passage between rooms or between buildings
Pronunciation
US

/ˈhɛdɪŋ/

UK

/ˈhɛdɪŋ/

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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘heading'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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