bald
bawld
Bald (adj) means having little or no hair on the head. Example: “He started going bald in his late twenties.”
adj
1
Having little or no hair on the head.
"He started going bald in his late twenties."
"The barber offered to shave his head completely bald."
"My uncle is completely bald but he always wears a hat in winter."
2
Plain and direct, without any softening detail.
"She gave a bald statement of the facts, with no excuses."
"The letter was a bald refusal, with no word of regret."
"He made a bald announcement that the shop would close on Friday."
3
Of a tyre, worn smooth so the tread is gone.
"The car failed its inspection because of two bald tyres."
"The mechanic warned me that my front tyres were getting bald."
"Driving on bald tyres in wet weather is very dangerous."
How to use bald
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLacking hair on the head, or (of a statement) stripped of detail and delivered plainly.
Common pairings
going bald
bald statement
bald tyre
bald patch
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Word forms
- Plural
- balds
- Third person singular
- balds
- Past tense
- balded
- Comparative
- balder
- Superlative
- baldest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He started going _____ in his late twenties.
Etymology
From Middle English balled, of uncertain origin — likely related to an old word for "ball" or "round object," describing a smooth, hairless head.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “bald” mean?
The word “bald” means having little or no hair on the head. In plain terms, lacking hair on the head, or (of a statement) stripped of detail and delivered plainly.
How do you pronounce “bald”?
“Bald” is pronounced bawld (/bɔːld/ in IPA).
How do you use “bald” in a sentence?
Here is “bald” used in a sentence: “He started going bald in his late twenties.”
What part of speech is “bald”?
“Bald” is an adjective.
Where does the word “bald” come from?
The word “bald” comes from Middle English. From Middle English balled, of uncertain origin — likely related to an old word for "ball" or "round object," describing a smooth, hairless head.
Is “bald” a common word?
“Bald” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “bald” have?
“Bald” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having little or no hair on the head.
What is the difference between bald and balding?
Bald describes someone who has little or no hair on the head already, while balding describes someone who is in the process of losing their hair. Balding is the gradual, ongoing state, whereas bald refers to the resulting condition.
What does it mean to make a bald statement?
A bald statement is one that is plain and direct, delivered without any softening detail or diplomatic phrasing. This figurative use of bald extends the idea of 'bare' or 'stripped down' from hair to language.
Why is a worn-out tyre described as bald?
A tyre is called bald when it has been worn smooth and its tread has disappeared, leaving a surface as featureless as a hairless head. This usage is a direct visual comparison to baldness on a person.
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