Nose vs. Beak — What's the Difference?

A nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which receive and expel air for respiration alongside the mouth. Behind the nose are the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses.

The beak, bill, and/or rostrum is an external anatomical structure found mostly in birds, but also in non-avian dinosaurs and some mammals. A beak is used for eating and for preening, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young.

The part projecting above the mouth on the face of a person or animal, containing the nostrils and used for breathing and smelling

A bird's horny projecting jaws; a bill

The front end of an aircraft, car, or other vehicle

A magistrate or a schoolmaster.

An act of looking around or prying

The bill of a bird, especially one that is strong and curved, such as that of a hawk or a finch.

(of an animal) thrust its nose against or into something

A similar structure in other animals, such as turtles, insects, or fish.

Look around or pry into something

A usually firm, tapering tip on certain plant structures, such as some seeds and fruits.

(of a vehicle) move cautiously forward

The spout of a pitcher.

The part of the human face or the forward part of the head of other vertebrates that contains the nostrils and organs of smell and forms the beginning of the respiratory tract.

A metal or metal-clad ram projecting from the bow of an ancient warship.

The sense of smell

(Informal)The human nose.

The ability to detect, sense, or discover as if by smell

A schoolmaster.

The characteristic smell of a wine or liqueur; bouquet.

A judge.

(Informal) The nose considered as a symbol of prying

Anatomical uses.

Something, such as the forward end of an aircraft, rocket, or submarine, that resembles a nose in shape or position.

A rigid structure projecting from the front of a bird's face, used for pecking, grooming, foraging, carrying items, eating food, etc.

A very short distance or narrow margin

A similar structure forming the jaws of a turtle, platypus, etc.

To find out by or as if by smell

The long projecting sucking mouth of some insects and other invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera.

To touch with the nose; nuzzle.

The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve.

To move, push, or make with or as if with the nose.

The prolongation of certain univalve shells containing the canal.

To advance the forward part of cautiously

(botany) Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.

To smell or sniff.

Figurative uses.

(Informal) To search or inquire meddlesomely; snoop or pry

Anything projecting or ending in a point like a beak, such as a promontory of land.

To advance with caution

(architecture) A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.

A protuberance on the face housing the nostrils, which are used to breathe or smell.

(farriery) A toe clip.

A snout, the nose of an animal.

(nautical) That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.

The tip of an object.

(nautical) A beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, used as a ram to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.

The bulge on the side of a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, that fits into the hole of its adjacent piece.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Libythea, notable for the beak-like elongation on their heads.

(horse racing) The length of a horse’s nose, used to indicate the distance between horses at the finish of a race, or any very close race.

Colloquial uses.

A perfumer.

(slang) The human nose, especially one that is large and pointed.

The power of smelling.

Cocaine.

Bouquet, the smell of something, especially wine.

A justice of the peace; a magistrate.

The skill in recognising bouquet.

A schoolmaster (originally, at Eton).

(by extension) Skill at finding information.

(transitive) Strike with the beak.

(architecture) A downward projection from a cornice.

(transitive) Seize with the beak.

(slang) An informer.

To play truant.

(intransitive) To move cautiously by advancing its front end.

The bill or nib of a bird, consisting of a horny sheath, covering the jaws. The form varies much according to the food and habits of the bird, and is largely used in the classification of birds.

(intransitive) To snoop.

Anything projecting or ending in a point, like a beak, as a promontory of land.

(transitive) To detect by smell or as if by smell.

A beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, in order to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.

(transitive) To push with one's nose; to nuzzle.

That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.

(transitive) To defeat (as in a race or other contest) by a narrow margin; sometimes with out.

A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.

(transitive) To utter in a nasal manner; to pronounce with a nasal twang.

Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.

(transitive) To furnish with a nose.

A magistrate or policeman.

(transitive) To confront; be closely face to face or opposite to.

Beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)

The prominent part of the face or anterior extremity of the head containing the nostrils and olfactory cavities; the olfactory organ. See Nostril, and Olfactory organ under Olfactory.

Horny projecting mouth of a bird

The power of smelling; hence, scent.

Informal terms for the nose

A projecting end or beak at the front of an object; a snout; a nozzle; a spout; as, the nose of a bellows; the nose of a teakettle.

Hit lightly with a picking motion

To smell; to scent; hence, to track, or trace out.

To touch with the nose; to push the nose into or against; hence, to interfere with; to treat insolently.

To utter in a nasal manner; to pronounce with a nasal twang; as, to nose a prayer.

To confront; be closely face to face or opposite to; meet.

To furnish with a nose; as, to nose a stair tread.

To examine with the nose or sense of smell.

To make by advancing the nose or front end; as, the train nosed its way into the station;

To beat by (the length of) a nose.

To push or move with the nose or front forward.

To smell; to sniff; to scent.

To pry officiously into what does not concern one; to nose around.

The organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals;

A front that resembles a human nose (especially the front of an aircraft);

The front or forward projection of a tool or weapon;

A small distance;

The sense of smell (especially in animals);

A natural skill;

A projecting spout from which a fluid is discharged

Search or inquire in a meddlesome way;

Advance the forward part of with caution;

Catch the scent of; get wind of;

Push or move with the nose

Rub noses

Defeat by a narrow margin