beard
7 synonyms for beard, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and jaw of a man's face.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use beard
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grow a beard
a bushy beard
trim a beard
Etymology
From Old English beard, an ancient Germanic word for facial hair, related to Latin barba (which also gives us "barber" and "barb").
Full origin of beard →Frequently asked questions
What does “beard” mean?
The word “beard” means the hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and jaw of a man's face. In plain terms, facial hair on a man's chin and jaw; informally, someone used to disguise another person's relationship or orientation.
How do you pronounce “beard”?
“Beard” is pronounced beerd (/bɪɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “beard” in a sentence?
Here is “beard” used in a sentence: “He'd grown a thick beard over the winter.”
What part of speech is “beard”?
Depending on how it is used, “beard” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “beard” come from?
The word “beard” comes from Latin. From Old English beard, an ancient Germanic word for facial hair, related to Latin barba (which also gives us "barber" and "barb").
Is “beard” a common word?
“Beard” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “beard” have?
“Beard” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and jaw of a man's face.
What is the difference between a beard and a goatee?
A beard is hair grown on the chin, cheeks, and jaw of a man's face. A goatee is a small beard covering only the chin, leaving the cheeks bare, and it is often paired with a mustache. A full beard covers far more of the face than a goatee.
What is the difference between a beard and stubble?
Stubble is the very short growth that appears within a few days of not shaving. A beard is longer, established hair on the chin, cheeks, and jaw, usually grown deliberately and shaped. The line between them is not exact, but hair long enough to comb or trim into a style is generally called a beard.
