hair
HEH-uh
Hair (noun) means a thin strand that grows from the skin of humans and many animals. Example: “There was a long black hair on my jacket.”
noun
1
A thin strand that grows from the skin of humans and many animals.
"There was a long black hair on my jacket."
"A single grey hair stood out among the rest."
"The cat left hair all over the sofa."
2
All the hair growing on a person's head, especially considered as a style.
"He decided to cut his hair short for the summer."
"She dyed her hair a deep shade of red."
"He runs his fingers through his hair when he's nervous."
3
A very small amount or degree.
"The new table is a hair too wide for the doorway."
"The bus missed the pothole by a hair."
"Move the picture frame a hair to the left."
How to use hair
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe thin strands that grow from skin, especially on the head, or a tiny amount of something.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "hare," the animal — they sound identical but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a strand of hair
cut your hair
a hair out of place
by a hair
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Word forms
- Plural
- hairs
- Third person singular
- hairs
- Past tense
- haired
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a long black _____ on my jacket.
Etymology
From Old English hær, an ancient Germanic word going back to a root meaning "to scrape or comb," found with close cousins in Dutch (haar) and German (Haar).
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for hair
See all rhymes for hair →Frequently asked questions
What does “hair” mean?
The word “hair” means a thin strand that grows from the skin of humans and many animals. In plain terms, the thin strands that grow from skin, especially on the head, or a tiny amount of something.
How do you pronounce “hair”?
“Hair” is pronounced HEH-uh (/ˈhɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hair” in a sentence?
Here is “hair” used in a sentence: “A single grey hair stood out among the rest.”
What part of speech is “hair”?
“Hair” is a noun.
Where does the word “hair” come from?
The word “hair” comes from Old English. From Old English hær, an ancient Germanic word going back to a root meaning "to scrape or comb," found with close cousins in Dutch (haar) and German (Haar).
Is “hair” a common word?
“Hair” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “hair” have?
“Hair” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin strand that grows from the skin of humans and many animals.
What is the difference between hair and hare?
Hair and hare sound alike but are unrelated. Hair is the thin strand that grows from the skin of humans and animals. A hare is an animal, similar to a rabbit but larger, with long ears and powerful hind legs. Only the spelling and pronunciation link is a source of confusion.
Is hair countable or uncountable?
Hair works both ways. As an uncountable noun it refers to the whole mass on your head, as in "her hair is long." As a countable noun it refers to individual strands, as in "there is a hair in my soup." The meaning shifts with how you use it.
What is an example of hair used in a sentence?
You might say, "He brushed the hair out of his eyes," or "The cat left hair all over the sofa." The word covers both the strands on a person's head and the fur-like growth on animals, all thin strands growing from the skin.
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