hairline

American  

[hair-lahyn] / ˈhɛərˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a very slender line.

2. the lower edge of the hair, especially along the upper forehead.

   a hairline that slowly receded.

3. worsted fabric woven with very fine lines or stripes.

4. Printing.

   1. a very thin line on the face of a type.

   2. a style of type consisting entirely of such lines. line.

   3. a thin rule for printing fine lines. line.

   4. undesirable vertical lines line between letters, caused by worn matrices.

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adjective

1. narrow or fine as a hair.

   a hairline fracture.

hairline British  

/ ˈhɛəˌlaɪn /

noun

1. the natural margin formed by hair on the head

2. 1. a very narrow line

   2. ( as modifier )

      a hairline crack

3. printing

   1. a thin stroke in a typeface

   2. any typeface consisting of such strokes

   3. thin lines beside a character, produced by worn or poorly cast type

4. a rope or line of hair

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Etymology

Origin of hairline

First recorded in 1725–35; hair + line ¹

Example Sentences

But neither of his grandfathers had much; his father has a receding hairline.

From The Wall Street Journal

Joseph’s look contrasts with the somewhat scruffy beard and receding hairline of the donor kneeling at the right.

From The Wall Street Journal

Or nose to hairline, as the case may be.

From Literature

He was about my color and of average height with big beautiful brown eyes and a receding hairline.

From Literature

Agar could have been stumped on six off Swann, but got the benefit of a hairline decision.

From BBC

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