shave

/ʃeiv/
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shave

He shaves his face carefully in front of the bathroom mirror.

Definition
  1. Noun:

    • The act of removing hair with a razor: "Shave" refers to the process of cutting hair, especially facial hair, very close to the skin using a razor.
  2. Verb:

    • To remove hair from the skin by cutting it off close to the surface with a razor: This is the most common meaning.
    • To cut or pare thin slices from the surface of something: This can refer to wood, food, or other materials.
    • To reduce or remove something by a small margin: Often used figuratively to mean barely missing something or reducing a price, time, etc., by a small amount.
    • To touch or graze lightly in passing: To come very close to touching something without actually doing so.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:

    • He got a clean shave at the barbershop.
    • I need to have a shave before the interview.
  • Verb (remove hair):

    • He shaves his face every morning.
    • She shaved her legs for the summer.
  • Verb (cut thin slices):

    • The carpenter shaved a thin piece off the door to make it fit.
    • Shave some chocolate over the dessert for garnish.
  • Verb (reduce/remove by a small margin):

    • The runner shaved two seconds off his personal best.
    • The store shaved ten dollars off the price.
  • Verb (graze lightly):

    • The bus shaved the side of the car as it passed.
Advanced Usage
  • "To have a close shave": To narrowly avoid an accident or a dangerous situation.

    • He had a close shave when the falling brick just missed his head.
  • "Shave and a haircut": A colloquial phrase referring to a basic grooming service, or the rhythm of a famous musical knock.

    • All he wanted was a simple shave and a haircut.
Variants and Related Words
  • Shaver (n): A device or person that shaves; also a colloquial term for a young boy.
    • He bought an electric shaver.
  • Shaving (n): The act of removing hair; also a thin slice pared off (e.g., wood shavings).
    • Wood shavings covered the workshop floor.
  • Shaven (adj): The past participle used as an adjective meaning having been shaved.
    • His clean-shaven face looked younger.
Synonyms
  • Verb (remove hair): Trim, clip.
  • Verb (cut slices): Pare, plane, skive.
  • Verb (graze): Brush, skim.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Shave off: To remove by shaving; to reduce by a small amount.

    • He shaved off his beard.
    • Can we shave off a few dollars from the total cost?
  • Shave down: To reduce the size or amount of something by shaving or cutting.

    • We need to shave down the budget for this project.
Related Idioms
  • "Shave the truth": To tell a lie or to not be completely honest (less common, related to "shaving" off part of the truth).
    • I think he's shaving the truth about what happened.
shave

He shaves his face carefully in front of the bathroom mirror.

Noun
  1. the act of removing hair with a razor
Verb
  1. touch the surface of lightly
    • His back shaved the counter in passing
  2. make shavings of or reduce to shavings
    • shave the radish
  3. cut or remove with or as if with a plane
    • The machine shaved off fine layers from the piece of wood
  4. cut the price of
  5. cut closely
    • trim my beard
  6. remove body hair with a razor