First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
efface
verb ef·face \i-ˈfās, e-\
: to cause (something) to fade or disappear
ef·facedef·fac·ing
Full Definition of EFFACE
transitive verb
1
: to eliminate or make indistinct by or as if by wearing away a surface <coins with dates effaced by wear>; also : to cause to vanish <daylight effaced the stars>
2
: to make (oneself) modestly or shyly inconspicuous
— ef·face·able \-ˈfā-sə-bəl\ adjective
— ef·face·ment \-ˈfās-mənt\ noun
— ef·fac·er noun
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See efface defined for kids
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Origin of EFFACE
Middle English, from Anglo-French esfacer, effacer, from e- + face face
Related to EFFACE
- Synonyms
- abolish, black out, blot out, cancel, clean (up), annihilate, eradicate, erase, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, root (out), rub out, snuff (out), stamp (out), sweep (away), wipe out
Rhymes with EFFACE
abase, airspace, Alsace, ambsace, apace, backspace, best-case, biface, birthplace, blackface, boldface, bookcase, bootlace, braincase, briefcase, clubface, crankcase, cyclase, debase, deface, disgrace, displace, dogface, doughface, embrace, emplace, encase, enchase, enlace, erase, euclase, firebase, fireplace, footpace, footrace, foreface, freebase, gyrase, half-space, hard case, headspace, hydrase, Jerez, kinase, lactase, lightface, lipase, lyase, maltase, manes, millrace, milreis, misplace, mutase, notecase, null-space, nutcase, outface, outpace, outrace, paleface, postface, Quilmes, replace, scapegrace, shoelace, showcase, showplace, slipcase, smearcase, someplace, staircase, subbase, subspace, suitcase, tailrace, tenace, typeface, ukase, unbrace, unlace, watchcase, wheelbase, whey-face, whiteface, workplace, worst-case
EFFACEMENT Defined for Kids
efface
verb ef·face \i-ˈfās\
ef·facedef·fac·ing
Definition of EFFACE for Kids
: to cause to fade or disappear <… she wished to efface the memory of yesterday's failure … — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women>
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