heading off

Verb

head off (third-person singular simple present heads off, present participle heading off, simple past and past participle headed off)

1. (intransitive) To begin moving away.
   • We will head off on our holidays tomorrow.
2. (transitive) To intercept.
   • The cavalry will head off the bandits at the pass.

   Synonyms:

   cut off

3. (transitive) To avoid the undesirable consequences of; to prevent.
   • The government took steps to head off summertime shortages of gasoline.
4. (intransitive) To start out.
   • Perseus, St. George, Hercules, Jonah, and Vishnoo! there’s a member-roll for you! What club but the whaleman’s can head off like that?1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 82, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 405
5. To turn away from the wind.