razor

American  

[rey-zer] / ˈreɪ zər /

noun

1. a sharp-edged instrument used especially for shaving the face or trimming the hair.

2. an electrically powered instrument used for the same purpose.

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verb (used with object)

1. to shave, cut, or remove with or as if with a razor.

idioms

1. on the razor's edge, in a difficult or precarious position.

razor British  

/ ˈreɪzə /

noun

1. a sharp implement used esp by men for shaving the face

2. in an acute dilemma

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verb

1. (tr) to cut or shave with a razor

razor More Idioms  

1. see sharp as a tack (razor).

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Other Word Forms

• razorless adjective
• unrazored adjective

Etymology

Origin of razor

1250–1300; Middle English rasour < Old French rasor, equivalent to ras ( er ) to raze + -or -or ²

Example Sentences

However, the margin for error is, at times, razor thin.

From MarketWatch

They weren’t allowed to experiment with mammals, including rats, so they isolated tissue samples from anglerfish, the carnivorous bottom-feeders with razor sharp teeth.

From The Wall Street Journal

The object is a razor thin chain of galaxies embedded within a vast cosmic filament located about 140 million light years from Earth.

From Science Daily

He instead pointed to a “razor thin margin” in the chamber, which he says allows a few defectors to circumvent leadership.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet just a few metres away a walled compound, topped with razor wire, has been built right next to the river.

From BBC

Related Words

• blade
• knife
• shaver