shave
shayv
Shave (verb) means to cut hair close to the skin using a razor or similar tool. Example: “My father shaved with a safety razor and plenty of foam.”
verb
1
To cut hair close to the skin using a razor or similar tool.
"My father shaved with a safety razor and plenty of foam."
"He shaves his face every morning before work."
"She shaved her head for charity."
2
To cut a thin slice or layer from something.
"Shave a little chocolate over the top of the cake."
"He shaved the bark off the stick with a knife."
"The chef shaved thin slices of parmesan over the pasta."
3
To reduce something slightly, such as time, cost, or size.
"Turning off unused lights should shave something off your energy bill."
"The builders managed to shave a day off the schedule."
"The new engine shaves a few seconds off the lap time."
noun
1
An instance of shaving, especially the face.
"A hot towel and a shave made him feel brand new."
"I popped into the barber's for a quick shave."
"He needs a shave — he looks scruffy."
2
A narrow escape from danger; a close shave.
"The goalkeeper's lucky save was a close shave for the home team."
"Her narrow escape on the icy road was a close shave."
"That was a close shave — the car missed us by inches."
How to use shave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cut hair very close to the skin, cut a thin slice off something, or trim a small amount off a total.
Common pairings
shave your face
shave your legs
close shave
shave a few seconds off
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Word forms
- Plural
- shaves
- Third person singular
- shaves
- Past tense
- shaved, shove, shaven
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My father _____ with a safety razor and plenty of foam.
Etymology
From Old English sċafan, "to scrape or shave," from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to scrape," related to words in Dutch and German with the same core meaning.
Related words
Rhymes for shave
See all rhymes for shave →Frequently asked questions
What does “shave” mean?
The word “shave” means to cut hair close to the skin using a razor or similar tool. In plain terms, to cut hair very close to the skin, cut a thin slice off something, or trim a small amount off a total.
How do you pronounce “shave”?
“Shave” is pronounced shayv (/ʃeɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “shave” in a sentence?
Here is “shave” used in a sentence: “He shaves his face every morning before work.”
What part of speech is “shave”?
Depending on how it is used, “shave” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “shave” come from?
The word “shave” comes from Old English. From Old English sċafan, "to scrape or shave," from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to scrape," related to words in Dutch and German with the same core meaning.
Is “shave” a common word?
“Shave” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “shave” have?
“Shave” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cut hair close to the skin using a razor or similar tool.
What is the difference between 'shave' and 'trim'?
To 'shave' means to cut hair close to the skin using a razor, removing it almost entirely, while to 'trim' means to cut hair shorter without removing it completely. Shaving typically leaves smooth skin, whereas trimming maintains some length.
What does it mean to 'shave' a price or time?
To 'shave' a price, cost, or time means to reduce it slightly, such as shaving a few seconds off a race time or shaving a small amount off a bill.
What is the difference between 'a shave' as a noun and 'shave' as a verb?
As a verb, 'shave' describes the action of cutting hair close to the skin or slicing off a thin layer. As a noun, 'a shave' refers to an instance of shaving, especially of the face, or idiomatically to a narrow escape, as in 'a close shave.'
