eyelash

American  

[ahy-lash] / ˈaɪˌlæʃ /

noun

1. one of the short, thick, curved hairs growing as a fringe on the edge of an eyelid.

2. the fringe of hairs itself.

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eyelash British  

/ ˈaɪˌlæʃ /

noun

1. any one of the short curved hairs that grow from the edge of the eyelids

2. a row or fringe of these hairs

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Etymology

Origin of eyelash

First recorded in 1745–55; eye + lash ¹

Explanation

An eyelash is a hair that grows from your top or bottom eyelid. Try batting or fluttering your eyelashes to get attention. You'll either get what you want or look silly, or both. Eyelashes are small, usually dark and curved, and having plenty of long, lush eyelashes is considered attractive in everyone, male or female. The combination of your blinking eyelids and the fringe of eyelashes helps keep small particles out of your eyes — and eyelashes are sensitive in a similar way to a cat's whiskers, so that your eyes will shut reflexively when some object comes too close.

Example Sentences

Years later, when my salary broke six figures, I found myself dropping $20 on a fancy cocktail without batting a designer-mascaraed eyelash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

Can you explain how and why you came up with the eyelash sequence, which you shot in excruciating close-up, and the truly disgusting tapeworm?

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2025

I was using eyelash serums to try and grow my lashes back but my eyes were getting really sore and red.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2024

That’s not nearly as dramatic as the mano a mano competition on the track, where some races are over in 10 seconds, the winner decided by an eyelash.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2024

Adina hopped behind the catapult and readied the eyelash curler and lipstick projectiles.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

Related Words

• eyebrow
• fiber
• fur
• grass
• haircut
• hairstyle
• mane
• sideburn
• strand
• wig
• wool