Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person whose occupation is cutting and styling hair, and shaving or trimming beards: A "barber" is a professional who provides haircuts, beard trims, and shaves, typically for men, in a barbershop.
   • Samuel Barber (1910-1981), an American composer: This is a proper noun referring to the famous composer of works like Adagio for Strings.

2. Verb:

   • To cut, trim, or style someone's hair or beard: To perform the services of a barber.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • I need to visit the barber for a haircut.
  • The barber gave him a very close shave.
  • Barber's "Adagio for Strings" is a beautiful piece of music.

• Verb:

  • He barbered his friend's hair in the backyard.
  • The old man was neatly barbered every Saturday morning.

Advanced Usage

• "To barber" can imply a careful, professional cutting or trimming, often beyond just hair (e.g., in horticulture, to trim plants meticulously).
  • He expertly barbered the hedge into a perfect sphere.

Variants and Related Words

• Barbershop (n): The place of business where a barber works.
  • He owns a traditional barbershop with a striped pole outside.
• Barbering (n): The trade or activity of cutting and styling hair.
  • He went to school to learn the art of barbering.

Synonyms

• Hairdresser (though this term is more general and often associated with styling women's hair).
• Haircutter.
• Stylist.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Barber up (informal, rare): To get a haircut or make oneself neat.
  • You should barber up before the job interview.

Related Idioms

• Every barber knows that: An idiom meaning something is common knowledge, known by everyone.
  • The mayor is resigning? Well, every barber knows that by now.

Noun

1. a hairdresser who cuts hair and shaves beards as a trade
2. United States composer (1910-1981)

Verb

1. perform the services of a barber: cut the hair and/or beard of