Definition

1. Verb:
   • To erase or remove something completely, as if by rubbing or wiping away: This is the primary meaning, referring to the physical or metaphorical act of making something disappear or obliterating it.
   • To make oneself inconspicuous or to withdraw from notice: This meaning involves deliberately behaving in a way that avoids attention or prominence.
   • To remove completely from recognition or memory: This sense refers to the act of eradicating something from conscious awareness or historical record.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to erase/remove):
  • Time and weather had begun to efface the inscription on the old tombstone.
  • The artist tried to efface the mistake from the canvas.
• Verb (to make inconspicuous):
  • In the presence of the famous speaker, she effaced herself and listened quietly.
• Verb (to remove from memory):
  • He wished he could efface the painful memory of that day.

Advanced Usage

• "to efface oneself": This is a fixed reflexive phrase meaning to deliberately avoid drawing attention to oneself, to be modest or self-effacing.
  • As a new member of the team, he chose to efface himself and learn from the experienced colleagues.

Variants and Related Words

• Effacement (n): The act or process of effacing; the state of being effaced.
  • The effacement of the ancient city's ruins was a great loss to archaeology.
• Self-effacing (adj): Not claiming attention for oneself; retiring and modest.
  • She was a brilliant but self-effacing scientist who rarely gave interviews.

Synonyms

• Erase: To remove written or drawn marks.
• Obliterate: To destroy utterly; wipe out.
• Expunge: To strike or blot out; erase completely.
• Blot out: To obscure or wipe out.
• Eradicate: To destroy completely; put an end to.

Antonyms

• Emblazon: To inscribe or decorate conspicuously.
• Highlight: To emphasize or make prominent.
• Perpetuate: To make something continue indefinitely.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Efface from memory/mind: To consciously try to forget something.
  • She tried to efface the embarrassing incident from her memory.
• Efface the traces/evidence: To remove all signs of something.
  • The criminal attempted to efface all traces of his presence at the scene.

Verb

1. remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
   • Please erase the formula on the blackboard--it is wrong!
2. make inconspicuous
   • efface oneself
3. remove completely from recognition or memory
   • efface the memory of the time in the camps