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.

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