English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

shaving

SHAY-vihng

Shaving (noun) means a thin strip or curl of material removed by cutting or shaving. Example: “Wood shavings covered the workshop floor.”

noun
1
A thin strip or curl of material removed by cutting or shaving.
"Wood shavings covered the workshop floor."
2
The act of removing hair close to the skin.
"He keeps a razor and shaving cream in his bag."

How to Use Shaving

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the thin curls of material cut away from wood or metal, or the act of shaving hair.

Common pairings
wood shavings shaving cream shaving foam shaving razor

Word Forms

shavings plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “shaving” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Wood _____ covered the workshop floor.

Related Words

Rhymes for shaving

See all rhymes for shaving →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “shaving” mean?

The word “shaving” means a thin strip or curl of material removed by cutting or shaving. In plain terms, either the thin curls of material cut away from wood or metal, or the act of shaving hair.

How do you pronounce “shaving”?

“Shaving” is pronounced SHAY-vihng (/ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “shaving” in a sentence?

Here is “shaving” used in a sentence: “Wood shavings covered the workshop floor.”

What part of speech is “shaving”?

“Shaving” is a noun.

Is “shaving” a common word?

“Shaving” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “shaving” have?

“Shaving” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin strip or curl of material removed by cutting or shaving.

What is the difference between "shaving" the activity and "a shaving" as an object?

"Shaving" as an activity refers to removing hair close to the skin, usually with a razor. "A shaving" (often used as "shavings") instead refers to a thin strip or curl of material, such as wood or metal, removed by a cutting tool. Context usually makes clear which sense is meant.

Is "wood shavings" the same as "sawdust"?

Not exactly. Wood shavings are thin curls or strips of wood removed by a blade or plane, while sawdust is made up of much finer, powdery particles produced by sawing. Shavings are generally larger and more continuous in shape than sawdust.

What words commonly follow "shaving" in everyday phrases?

In the hair-removal sense, "shaving" commonly appears with "cream," "foam," "razor," and "brush." In the material sense, it pairs with words like "wood," "metal," or "curl" to describe the strips removed by cutting.

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial