名词head 是“头”，它是人的“首脑”，其位置始终在前头，变成动词意思引申为“前进，前往，前行，走向，驶往，朝（某方向）行进”。这时，head 一般用作不及物动词，后面跟表示方向和目的地的介词for 搭配，表示“前往的地方”。

The ship came about and headed for the shore.  轮船调转般向朝海岸驶去。

We set sail at dawn and headed for New York.  我们在黎明起程，直驶纽约。

He put on his coat and headed for the door.  他穿上大衣向门口走去。

The thirsty animals headed for the water.  干渴的动物向水走去。

【注意】If you are heading for a particular place, you are going towards that place. In American English, you can also say that you are headed for a particular place.

美国英语也说：be headed for，这应该是特例。