shave
to remove a growth of beard with a razor.
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.
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.
Origin of shave
1Other words for shave
Other words from shave
- shav·a·ble, shave·a·ble, adjective
- re·shave, verb re·shaved, re·shav·ing.
- un·shav·a·ble, adjective
- un·shave·a·ble, adjective
- un·shaved, adjective
- well-shaved, adjective
Words Nearby shave
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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-ScienceThe 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-ScienceIt 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-ScienceThe 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-ScienceAlthough you can pay well over $100 for the bells and whistles offered by some brands, you don’t have to shell out a lot to get a great 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThere is a big difference between imagining not shaving and actually trying to not shave.
According to Fahs, the “labor intensive” assignment “gives men some insight into what women who shave go through.”
Budgets are out of control because government executives lack flexibility to shave here and there to make ends meet.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTNeither 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. WelshThe 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 SharmanOn 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 LaurieI 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
/ (ʃeɪv) /
(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
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
Origin of shave
1Derived forms of shave
- shavable or shaveable, adjective
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
see close call (shave).
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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