beard

[ beerd ]

/ bɪərd /

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noun

the growth of hair on the face of an adult man, often including a mustache.

Zoology. a tuft, growth, or part resembling or suggesting a human beard, as the tuft of long hairs on the lower jaw of a goat or the cluster of hairlike feathers at the base of the bill in certain birds.

Botany. a tuft or growth of awns or the like, as on wheat or barley.

a barb or catch on an arrow, fishhook, knitting needle, crochet needle, etc.

Also called bevel neck. Printing.

the sloping part of a type that connects the face with the shoulder of the body.
British. the space on a type between the bottom of the face of an x-high character and the edge of the body, comprising both beard and shoulder.
the cross stroke on the stem of a capital G.

verb (used with object)

to seize, pluck, or pull the beard of: The hoodlums bearded the old man.

to oppose boldly; defy: It took courage for the mayor to beard the pressure groups.

to supply with a beard.

OTHER WORDS FOR beard

7 confront, brave, dare, face.

See synonyms for beard on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR beard

7 avoid, dodge.

See antonyms for beard on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of beard

First recorded before 900; Middle English berd, Old English beard; cognate with German Bart, Dutch baard, Late Latin Langobardi “Long-beards (name of the Lombards),” Crimean Gothic bars, Latin barba (fromWelsh barf), Lithuanian barzdà, Old Church Slavonic brada, Russian borodá; unattested European Indo-European bHaer-dhā, perhaps akin to barley¹

OTHER WORDS FROM beard

beardlike, adjectiveun·beard, verb (used with object)

Words nearby beard

bear animalcule, bearbaiting, bearberry, bearcat, bear claw, beard, bearded, bearded collie, bearded darnel, bearded dragon, bearded seal

Other definitions for beard (2 of 2)

Beard

[ beerd ]

/ bɪərd /

noun

Charles Austin, 1874–1948, and his wife Mary, 1876–1958, U.S. historians.

Daniel Carter, 1850–1941, U.S. artist and naturalist: organized the Boy Scouts of America in 1910.

James Andrew, 1903–85, U.S. cooking teacher and food writer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use beard in a sentence

He’s focused on today, on running a growing business and grooming the beard behind the operation.
When Dead Beer Walks: A Dane in Vietnam Turns Strange Brew Into Craft Gin|Eugene Robinson|February 12, 2021|Ozy
Beard said he hadn’t compiled the information because it doesn’t have to be reported to the federal government until this year.
How the CARES Act Forgot America’s Most Vulnerable Hospitals|by Brianna Bailey, The Frontier|January 26, 2021|ProPublica
Consider the blade and motor type of a beard trimmerOne of the most important things to prioritize is blade type.
The best beard trimmer: Shape your facial hair with ease|Carsen Joenk|January 19, 2021|Popular-Science
I’ve never been able to grow a beard, so that’s what I’ve got later on in my future.
Drew Brees and Tom Brady are trading jokes about their ‘History Channel’ matchup|Cindy Boren|January 14, 2021|Washington Post

A built-in sensor checks the density of your beard 220 times a second while adjusting the power 14 times a second.
Best electric shaver: Get a smooth shave with our picks|Jeremy Helligar|December 18, 2020|Popular-Science
Between 25 and 30, you’re trying to decide how much longer before you start growing a beard and calling yourself ‘Daddy.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic|Samantha Allen|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the video his face is a little thinner, his beard ever so slightly longer.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It seems that the different standard is (based on) the length of the beard and outwardly display of piety,” Hamdani said.
Disco Mullah Blasphemy Row Highlights Pakistan’s Hypocrisy|Shaheen Pasha|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hauchard converted to Islam in high school at 17, and is said to have suddenly begun wearing a beard and djellaba.
Showing the Faces of Its Murderers, ISIS Shows Its Global Reach|Tracy McNicoll|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An older and firmly round fellow with a trim beard leaned his head back and fought off tears.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He thrust his tiny tuft of beard between his teeth—a trick he had when perplexed or thoughtful.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
"I've told Judy to bemember," said Punch, wiggling, for his father's beard tickled his neck.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
His face was hidden beneath a beard of bristling, bushy red, and he had a sharp hook nose and small, bright eyes.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Now he was wagging his head solemnly, pulling his beard, and over and over repeating, "But hens is contrary—hens is contrary."
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
The Seneschal combed his beard and screwed up his pale eyes until they vanished in the cushions of his cheeks.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for beard

beard

/ (bɪəd) /

noun

the hair growing on the lower parts of a man's face

any similar growth in animals

a tuft of long hairs in plants such as barley and wheat; awn

the gills of an oyster

a barb, as on an arrow or fish-hook

slang a woman who accompanies a homosexual man to give the impression that he is heterosexual

printing the part of a piece of type that connects the face with the shoulder

verb (tr)

to oppose boldly or impertinently

to pull or grasp the beard of

Derived forms of beard

bearded, adjective

Word Origin for beard

Old English beard; related to Old Norse barth, Old High German bart, Latin barba

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for beard

beard

[ bîrd ]

A tuft or group of hairs or bristles on certain plants, such as barley and wheat. The individual strands of a beard are attached to a sepal or petal.

beard

OTHER WORDS FOR beard

OPPOSITES FOR beard

Origin of beard

OTHER WORDS FROM beard

Words nearby beard

Other definitions for beard (2 of 2)

Words related to beard

How to use beard in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for beard

Derived forms of beard

Word Origin for beard

Scientific definitions for beard