shave

[ sheyv ]

/ ʃeɪv /

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See synonyms for: shave / shaven / shaving on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), shaved, shaved or (especially in combination) shav·en, shav·ing.

to remove a growth of beard with a razor.

verb (used with object), shaved, shaved or (especially in combination) shav·en, shav·ing.

to remove hair from (the face, legs, etc.) by cutting it off close to the skin with a razor.

to cut off (hair, especially the beard) close to the skin with a razor (often followed by off or away).

to cut or scrape away the surface of with a sharp-edged tool: to shave hides in preparing leather.

to reduce to shavings or thin slices: to shave wood.

to cut or trim closely: to shave a lawn.

to scrape, graze, or come very near to: The car just shaved the garage door.

Commerce. to purchase (a note) at a rate of discount greater than is legal or customary.

to reduce or deduct from: The store shaved the price of winter suits in the spring.

noun

the act, process, or an instance of shaving or being shaved.

a thin slice; a shaving.

any of various tools for shaving, scraping, removing thin slices, etc.

OTHER WORDS FOR shave

7 brush, glance, touch.

See synonyms for shave on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of shave

before 900; (v.) Middle English schaven, schafen,Old English sc(e)afan; cognate with Dutch schaven to plane (a plank), abrade (the skin), Low German schaven,German schaben,Old Norse skafa to scrape, Gothic skaban to shear, shave; (noun) Middle English schave tool for shaving, Old English sc(e)afa, derivative of the v.

OTHER WORDS FROM shave

shav·a·ble, shave·a·ble, adjectivere·shave, verb re·shaved, re·shav·ing.un·shav·a·ble, adjectiveun·shave·a·ble, adjective

un·shaved, adjectivewell-shaved, adjective

Words nearby shave

shatter cone, shattered, shatterproof, Shaun, Shavano Peak, shave, shave biopsy, shaveling, shaven, shaver, shavetail

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use shave in a sentence

There are even some dry shave trimmers that have a built-in vacuum to pick up all the little hairs that you’ve recently snipped off.
The best beard trimmer: Shape your facial hair with ease|Carsen Joenk|January 19, 2021|Popular-Science
It would be a shame to pop out of the shower only to realize your beard needs to be fully dry before a shave, and you need to be on your way to work.
The best beard trimmer: Shape your facial hair with ease|Carsen Joenk|January 19, 2021|Popular-Science
The most popular trimmers, however, are ones that can handle both a wet and dry shave.
The best beard trimmer: Shape your facial hair with ease|Carsen Joenk|January 19, 2021|Popular-Science
Some higher-end brands may promise the closest shave ever, but keep your expectations in check.
Best electric shaver: Get a smooth shave with our picks|Jeremy Helligar|December 18, 2020|Popular-Science

The one drawback of these is they might not be able to give you as close a shave.
Best electric shaver: Get a smooth shave with our picks|Jeremy Helligar|December 18, 2020|Popular-Science
The only time they asked me to do something was grow my hair so they could shave it in that one scene.
‘Boyhood’ Star Ellar Coltrane: An Astonishing Debut 12 Years in the Making|Kevin Fallon|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is a big difference between imagining not shaving and actually trying to not shave.
Meet the Professor of Hairy Studies|Lizzie Crocker|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to Fahs, the “labor intensive” assignment “gives men some insight into what women who shave go through.”
Meet the Professor of Hairy Studies|Lizzie Crocker|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Budgets are out of control because government executives lack flexibility to shave here and there to make ends meet.
Government Has Made America Inept|Philip K. Howard|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tipitina's in the warm blue fog, squatting beneath a crescent moon so sharp and clean you could shave a wild hog with it.
The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the Bayou|John Ed Bradley|April 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Neither shall they shave their heads, nor wear long hair: but they shall only poll their heads.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
"That was a hell o' a narrow shave," quietly observed Tam Donaldson, as they panted together, and tried to collect themselves.
The Underworld|James C. Welsh
The monks have become so luxurious that they refuse to shave their heads and have commenced to array themselves in fine clothes.
A Cursory History of Swearing|Julian Sharman
On our way we had a near shave, for out of the darkness whizzed a shrapnel shell.
Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie|George Brenton Laurie
I was very much surprised when, after seven days without being able to shave, to see my face come out perfectly black all over!
Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie|George Brenton Laurie

British Dictionary definitions for shave

shave

/ (ʃeɪv) /

verb shaves, shaving, shaved, shaved or shaven (mainly tr)

(also intr) to remove (the beard, hair, etc) from (the face, head, or body) by scraping the skin with a razor

to cut or trim very closely

to reduce to shavings

to remove thin slices from (wood, etc) with a sharp cutting tool; plane or pare

to touch or graze in passing

informal to reduce (a price) by a slight amount

US commerce to purchase (a commercial paper) at a greater rate of discount than is customary or legal

noun

the act or an instance of shaving

any tool for scraping

a thin slice or shaving

an instance of barely touching something

close shave informal a narrow escape

Derived forms of shave

shavable or shaveable, adjective

Word Origin for shave

Old English sceafan; related to Old Norse skafa, Gothic skaban to shave, Latin scabere to scrape

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with shave

shave

see close call (shave).

shave

OTHER WORDS FOR shave

Origin of shave

OTHER WORDS FROM shave

Words nearby shave

Words related to shave

How to use shave in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shave

Derived forms of shave

Word Origin for shave

Other Idioms and Phrases with shave