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headland

Nautical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A point of land, often high and rugged, projecting into the sea.

Detailed Definition
The headland is the sea's first greeting from the continent, a promontory that both beckons and warns. In poetry, it symbolizes the threshold, the dramatic edge of the known world, and the meeting of two elements. Headlands are often capped with lighthouses or ruins, adding layers of historical and human significance. Poets use headlands to evoke the sublime—the awe-inspiring intersection of cliff and wave—and to mark turning points in a voyage, where the ship must alter course or make its final approach. The headland's enduring presence against the eroding sea also serves as a symbol of stubborn permanence.
Example
Example in poetry:
The headland in poetry symbolizes the threshold, the dramatic edge of the known world, and the meeting of two elements.; Headlands are often capped with lighthouses or ruins, adding layers of historical and human significance.; Poets use headlands to evoke the sublime—the awe-inspiring intersection of cliff and wave.; The headland’s enduring presence against the eroding sea serves as a symbol of stubborn permanence.; It marks turning points in a voyage, where the ship must alter course or make its final approach.; The headland is the sea’s first greeting from the continent, a promontory that both beckons and warns.
Additional Notes
A headland is a dramatic point of land projecting into the sea, and in poetry it symbolizes a threshold, the edge of the known world, and the meeting of two vast elements. Its high, often rugged form is a natural focal point, frequently capped with a lighthouse or ancient ruins, adding layers of history and human significance. Poets use headlands to evoke the sublime—the awe-inspiring intersection of cliff and wave, of permanence and erosion. A headland marks a turning point in a voyage, demanding a change of course, and thus serves as a metaphor for decisive moments in life. Its enduring, stubborn presence against the relentless sea symbolizes resilience and the weight of history.
Other Meanings of “headland”
Also Known As
Cape promontory point bluff ness baulk foreland
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