First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1shave
verb \ˈshāv\
: to cut the hair, wool, etc., off (someone or something) very close to the skin
: to cut off (hair, wool, a beard, etc.) very close to the skin
: to remove a thin layer of (something) from something
shavedshaved or shav·en \ˈshā-vən\ shav·ing
Full Definition of SHAVE
transitive verb
1
a : to remove a thin layer from b : to cut off in thin layers or shreds : slice c : to cut off closely
2
a : to sever the hair from (the head or another part of the body) close to the roots b : to cut off (hair or beard) close to the skin
3
4
: to come close to or touch lightly in passing
intransitive verb
1
: to cut off hair or beard close to the skin
2
: to proceed with difficulty : scrape
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Origin of SHAVE
Middle English, from Old English scafan; akin to Lithuanian skobti to pluck, Latin scabere to scratch, and perhaps to Greek koptein to cut — more at capon
Related to SHAVE
2shave
noun
: an act of shaving
Full Definition of SHAVE
1
: shaver 3
2
: a thin slice : shaving
3
: an act or the process of shaving
See shave defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SHAVE
before 12th century
SHAVEN Defined for Kids
1shave
verb \ˈshāv\
shavedshaved or shav·en \ˈshā-vən\shav·ing
Definition of SHAVE for Kids
1
: to cut or trim off a thin layer of (as with a sharp blade) <I shaved the wood from the tip of the pencil.>
2
: to cut off very close to the skin <He shaved the hair from his head.>
3
: to make bare or smooth by cutting the hair from <He shaved his face.>
2shave
noun
Definition of SHAVE for Kids
1
: an act of making bare or smooth by cutting the hair from
2
: a narrow escape <a close shave>
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