hair-cut

A child gets a hair-cut at the barber shop.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An act of cutting hair: "hair-cut" refers to the action or process of trimming or shortening hair, typically performed by a barber or hairdresser.
   • The style resulting from cutting: "hair-cut" also denotes the particular way hair is cut and styled, i.e., a specific hairstyle achieved through cutting.

Usage Examples

• Noun (action):
  • I need to get a hair-cut before the wedding. (The act of having my hair trimmed by a professional.)
• Noun (style):
  • His new hair-cut makes him look much younger. (The specific hairstyle he now has after being cut.)

Advanced Usage

• "to give someone a hair-cut": to perform the act of cutting someone's hair.

  • The barber gave him a short hair-cut. (The barber trimmed his hair to a short length.)

• "a hair-cut" in finance (informal): a reduction in the value of an asset or investment, often used metaphorically.

  • Investors faced a severe hair-cut on their bonds. (Investors experienced a significant reduction in the value of their bonds.)

Variants and Related Words

• Haircut (alternative spelling): the same as "hair-cut", often written as one word.

  • She booked an appointment for a haircut. (The same as a hair-cut.)

• Haircutter (n): a person who cuts hair (less common than "hairdresser" or "barber").

  • The haircutter used sharp scissors. (The person performing the cut.)

Synonyms

• Trim: a slight cut to tidy hair.

  • I just need a trim, not a full hair-cut. (A small adjustment, not a major cut.)

• Shearing: a more drastic or rough cut (often used for animals, but can be humorous for people).

  • He got a shearing at the cheap barbershop. (A very short or rough hair-cut.)

Related Idioms

• Get a hair-cut: to have one's hair cut.

  • He decided to get a hair-cut before the interview. (To have his hair trimmed.)

• Take a hair-cut (informal, finance): to accept a loss or reduction.

  • The company took a hair-cut on its stock price. (The company suffered a financial loss.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Cut off: to remove hair completely or significantly.

  • She cut off her long hair for a short hair-cut. (She removed the length to achieve the style.)

• Cut back: to trim or reduce hair length.

  • He needs to cut back his hair for the summer. (To shorten it moderately.)