hand mirror
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, portable mirror designed to be held in one's hand: A "hand mirror" is a mirror with a handle, allowing it to be easily held and used for viewing one's reflection at close range, typically for personal grooming or applying makeup.
Usage
- The primary function is for personal grooming. It is held in the hand to view one's face or the back of one's head.
- It is often used in conjunction with a larger, stationary wall mirror.
Examples
- Noun:
- She used a hand mirror to check the back of her hairstyle.
- The antique silver hand mirror was part of her dressing table set.
- He picked up the hand mirror to get a closer look at the blemish on his cheek.
Advanced Usage
- "To hold up a hand mirror (to someone/something)": Used metaphorically to describe the act of showing someone the truth about themselves or a situation, often critically.
- The report holds up a hand mirror to the company's flawed environmental practices. (This is an idiomatic extension, not a literal compound of the target word.)
Variants and Related Words
- Compact (mirror): A small, often folding case containing a mirror and sometimes powder. While similar in portability, a compact typically folds and may include cosmetics.
- Vanity mirror: A larger, often framed mirror designed to sit on a dressing table. It is not held in the hand.
Synonyms
- Vanity glass (archaic)
- Looking glass (archaic/general term for mirror, not specific to hand-held)
Related Phrases
- (To be) mirror in hand: A descriptive phrase indicating the action of using a hand mirror.
- She stood, mirror in hand, perfecting her lipstick.
Notes
- The term is a compound noun ("hand" + "mirror"). Its meaning is specific and literal, referring to the physical object. The metaphorical use in "Advanced Usage" is an idiomatic application of the entire phrase, not a standard definition of the compound word itself.
Noun
- a mirror intended to be held in the hand