beard
beerd
Beard (noun) means the hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and jaw of a man's face. Example: “The old fisherman stroked his long grey beard while he thought.”
noun
1
The hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and jaw of a man's face.
"The old fisherman stroked his long grey beard while he thought."
"He'd grown a thick beard over the winter."
"She asked him to trim his beard before the wedding."
2
Slang for a person who accompanies someone (often as a partner in public) to hide that person's sexual orientation or a secret relationship.
"He brought his friend along as a beard so nobody would ask questions."
"She later admitted she had been his beard at every office party."
"Rumours suggested the actress was acting as a beard for her closeted co-star."
verb
1
To confront someone boldly and openly, often facing them down despite the risk.
"The reporter was brave enough to beard the mayor at the press conference."
"Nobody dared beard the headteacher in her office, but Sam finally marched in."
"He decided to beard the manager directly about the missing wages."
How to use beard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFacial hair on a man's chin and jaw; informally, someone used to disguise another person's relationship or orientation.
Common pairings
grow a beard
a bushy beard
trim a beard
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Word forms
- Plural
- beards
- Third person singular
- beards
- Past tense
- bearded
Fill the gap
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The old fisherman stroked his long grey _____ while he thought.
Etymology
From Old English beard, an ancient Germanic word for facial hair, related to Latin barba (which also gives us "barber" and "barb").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for beard
See all rhymes for 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.
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