razor

American  

[ray-zer] / ˈreɪ zər /

noun

• razors
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• razorless
  adjective
• unrazored
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• razors
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of razor

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

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Explanation

If you need to shave, you'll want to use a razor. It's a tool that's made for removing unwanted hair. There are straight razors (the old-fashioned kind that barbers sometimes use), safety razors for shaving faces and legs, and electric razors that use spinning blades to trim beards or shave heads. A hair stylist also might use razor as a verb: "Let me just razor the ends and we'll be done!" Razor comes from the Old French raser, "to scrape."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

razor razors

Over in the 6th at Stand, Hungary’s only Michelin 2-star restaurant, executive chef Tamás Széll, in business here since 2018, sets his pickling sites on elderflowers, served with baked kohlrabi, razor clams and green apple.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Shekhar, who neglected to pack a razor blade and asks to borrow one, is persuaded not to shave after polling his friends, who also intend, at first, to rough it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

During the brief return, Jose Luis watered the plants and grabbed his electric razor.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Security at the bankrupt development was lax but oversight has since been improved, Petty said, with round-the-clock security guards, cameras, laser devices and tall metal walls topped with razor wire.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

But there is no open here, only razor wire and electric fences, where all our truths are trapped.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

But today, Schick’s owner, Edgewell Personal Care, makes razors not only under the Schick name but for Walmart’s Equate private-label brand and Target’s Up & Up line.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

Consumers weren’t forced to buy books, batteries, diapers, cables, razors, tools, groceries or printer ink from Amazon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

Procter & Gamble declined 1.4% after the owner of brands such as Gilette razors and Crest toothpaste posted softer-than-expected revenue for its fiscal second quarter.

From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026

Research has shown, however, that it can also spread through indirect contact such as shared toothbrushes and razors.

From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2025

There was all sorts of sharp and dangerous-looking blades and razors and knifes setting behind where the barber stood whilst he was cutting hair.

From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis

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Related Words

• blade
• knife
• shaver

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