Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

headcase

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.75 in modern English

Syllables: head-case
IPA

14

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A mentally unbalanced, unpredictable person, especially one who displays aggressive behavior.

Countable; Derogatory; Informal

noun

A genetic sequence that inhibits terminal branching of the trachea and regulates dendrite pruning.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

""A stockbroker doesn't have 80,000 people sitting behind him just waiting for a mistake," says Jim Fassel, whom fans serenaded with "Fire Fassel!" chants during his final weeks as head coach of the New York Giants last season. "It can drive you crazy." From head coach to head case in three easy steps."
"Another gene downstream of EcR/Usp is headcase. Screening genes that show genetic interactions with EcR mutants, Loncle and Williams identified headcase as a regulator of dendrite pruning (Loncle and Williams 2012)."

Etymology

From head + case.

Usage

Inflected Forms

headcases (plural) head-case (alternative) head case (alternative)

Synonyms

hdc

Questions

What does headcase mean?: A mentally unbalanced, unpredictable person, especially one who displays aggressive behavior.
Where does headcase come from?: From head + case.

How to pronounce headcase

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “headcase”.
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Repeat and practice — Say “headcase” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.