Dictionary

shave en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈʃeɪ̯v/
• [ˈʃeɪ̯v]

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English shaven, schaven, from Old English sċafan (“to shave, scrape, shred, polish”), from Proto-West Germanic *skaban, from Proto-Germanic *skabaną (“to scrape”), from Proto-Indo-European *skabʰ- (“to cut, split, form, carve”). Cognate with West Frisian skave, Dutch schaven, Low German schaven, German schaben, Danish skave, Norwegian Nynorsk skava, Swedish skava, Icelandic skafa, Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌽 (skaban), all roughly “to scrape, chafe, shave, plane, remove the outer lay of”.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To make (the head, skin etc.) bald or (the hair) shorter by using a tool such as a razor or electric clippers to cut the hair close to the skin.
2. (transitive) To cut anything in this fashion.
   • The Lab'rer vvith the bending Scythe is ſeen / Shaving the Surface of the vvaving Green; […] 1713, [John] Gay, Rural Sports. A Poem. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 10:
3. (intransitive) To remove hair from one's face by this means.
   • I had little time to shave this morning.
4. (transitive) To cut finely, for example slices of meat.
5. To skim along or near the surface of; to pass close to, or touch lightly, in passing.
   • Now shaves with level wing the deep. 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
   • […] I watched for sunken stones; I was learning to clap my teeth smartly before my heart flew out, when I shaved by a fluke some infernal sly old snag that would have ripped the life out of the tin–pot steamboat and drowned all the pilgrims; […] 1899 March, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number MI, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part II:
6. To reduce in size, weight, time taken etc., usually by a small amount.
   • The acceleration was impressive, and these trains should allow TfW to look at shaving a few minutes off schedules here and there in the fullness of time, […]. 2023 April 19, Pip Dunn, “Jack of all trades... and master of most”, in RAIL, number 981, page 57:
   • Kingsman’s two-hour 20-minute running time could have been shaved by around a fifth, without losing a great deal. 2017 September 19, Gwilym Mumford, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle review – spy sequel reaches new heights of skyscraping silliness”, in the Guardian:
7. (archaic, transitive) To be hard and severe in a bargain with; to practice extortion on; to cheat.
8. (US, dated, slang, transitive) To buy (a note) at a discount greater than the legal rate of interest, or to deduct in discounting it more than the legal rate allows.
9. (Multicultural-London-English, slang, transitive) To injure by employing a knife.
   • Took one of the goons, the fuck they gonna do? Shave him in the heart then the mandem smoke a zoot 2021 June 26, Rackz LC, “War” (1:45 from the start):

Forms

Coordinates

fleece · shear · trim

Deriveds

shaving cream · shave foam · shave up · reshave · shavetail · unshaved · shaving bump · preshave · shaving brush · shaveable · inshave · shavehook · shave brush · shavee · aftershave · shave down · shave off · shaving foam · God Shave the Queen · shavegrass · shave cream · shaveling · shaver · overshave

Synonyms

chef · shank · juice · stab · ching · shiv · jook

Translations (235)

hu borotválkozik (to remove hair from one's face) · to tele (to remove hair from) · pl ogolić (to remove hair from) · pon sihpih (to remove hair from) · hsb truhać (to remove hair from) · pt ralar (to slice thin) · ms cukur (to remove hair from) · sh бри̏јати (to remove hair from) · ru брить (to remove hair from) · nrf râser (to remove hair from) · ko 꺾다 (to remove hair from) · sk holiť sa (to remove hair from one's face) · kk қырқу (to remove hair from) · tr tıraş etmek (to remove hair from) · is raka (to remove hair from) · ca afaitar (to remove hair from) · uk бри́ти (to remove hair from) · fo raka sig (to remove hair from one's face) · cy eillio (to remove hair from one's face) · ja そる (to remove hair from) · la rādō (to remove hair from one's face) · he התגלח (to remove hair from one's face) · lv skūt (to remove hair from one's face) · az qırxmaq (to remove hair from) · ota قازیمق (to remove hair from) · da rage sig (to remove hair from one's face) · mn сахлаа хусах (to remove hair from one's face) · tr yülümek (to remove hair from) · uz tarashlamoq (to remove hair from) · pt fazer a barba (to remove hair from one's face) · gl barbear (to remove hair from one's face) · ru выска́бливать (to remove hair from) · mk ре́же (to slice thin) · oc rasar (to remove hair from) · sm sele (to remove hair from) · ms mencukur (to remove hair from) · uz qirmoq (to remove hair from) · nl zich scheren (to remove hair from one's face) · nb rake (to remove hair from) · pox puckăt (to remove hair from) · pox puckăt (to remove hair from one's face) · lt skusti (to remove hair from) · ro bărbieri (to remove hair from one's face) · ast afaitar (to remove hair from) · la abrādō (to remove hair from) · ro bărbieri (to remove hair from) · om haaduu (to remove hair from) · ht raze (to remove hair from) · id cukur (to remove hair from) · sk holiť (to remove hair from) · cmn 刮臉 /刮脸 (to remove hair from one's face) · kk қыру (to remove hair from) · fi ajaa partansa (to remove hair from one's face) · fr se raser (to remove hair from one's face) · ce даша (to remove hair from one's face) · de sich rasieren (to remove hair from one's face) · ca rasurar (to remove hair from) · cmn 削 (to slice thin) · nb barbere (to remove hair from) · is raka sig (to remove hair from one's face) · la tondeō (to remove hair from) · cmn 削 (to remove hair from) · fi siivuttaa (to slice thin) · ja ひげをそる (to remove hair from one's face) · mi whakatiwha (to remove hair from) · cmn 刮 (to remove hair from) · grc ξυρέω (to remove hair from) · ang sċieran (to remove hair from one's face) · hi दाढ़ी बनाना (to remove hair from) · la rādō (to remove hair from) · sl obriti (to remove hair from) · ln kolola (to remove hair from) · cy siafio (to remove hair from) · tr dilmek (to slice thin) · es rasurar (to remove hair from) · fa تراشیدن (to remove hair from) · lb raséieren (to remove hair from) · gl afeitar (to remove hair from) · it radersi (to remove hair from one's face) · vi cạo mặt (to remove hair from one's face) · ka წვერის პარსვა (to remove hair from one's face) · ht fè bab (to remove hair from one's face) · da rage (to remove hair from) · hy խուզել (to remove hair from) · hy սափրել (to remove hair from) · pl golić (to remove hair from) · ko 면도하다 (to remove hair from) · gd beàrr (to remove hair from) · cy eillio (to remove hair from) · ang sċieran (to remove hair from) · vi cạo râu (to remove hair from one's face) · my တုံး (to remove hair from) · nn raka (to remove hair from) · es afeitarse (to remove hair from one's face) · es rapar (to remove hair from) · ga bearr (to remove hair from) · yue 剃鬚 /剃须 (to remove hair from one's face) · sv raka (to remove hair from) · km កោរ (to remove hair from) · fi ajaa parta (to remove hair from one's face) · cy siafio (to remove hair from one's face) · acw حَلَق (to remove hair from) · ga tú féin a bhearradh (to remove hair from one's face) · yi גאָלן זיך (to remove hair from one's face) · sk oholiť sa (to remove hair from one's face) · bg бръ́сна (to remove hair from) · mn хусах (to remove hair from) · haw kahi (to remove hair from) · rup sursescu (to remove hair from) · pt barbear-se (to remove hair from one's face) · th โกน (to remove hair from) · el ξυρίζομαι (to remove hair from one's face) · ru вы́скоблить (to remove hair from) · swb umea (to remove hair from) · yi גאָלן (to remove hair from) · nci xima (to remove hair from) · vi cạo (to remove hair from) · hy թրաշվել (to remove hair from one's face) · ms bercukur (to remove hair from) · tk tyraş bolmak (to remove hair from) · pon sihp (to remove hair from one's face) · de rasieren (to remove hair from) · ba ҡырыу (to remove hair from) · pt barbear (to remove hair from) · zza taşen (to remove hair from one's face) · se ráhket (to remove hair from) · cs oholit (to remove hair from) · ar حَلَقَ (to remove hair from) · as খুৰা (to remove hair from) · pt raspar (to remove hair from) · ast afeitar (to remove hair from) · sh brȉjati (to remove hair from) · pl podgolić (to remove hair from) · pl ogolić się (to remove hair from one's face) · sv raka sig (to remove hair from one's face) · it rasarsi (to remove hair from one's face) · hy սափրվել (to remove hair from one's face) · it rasare (to remove hair from) · id bercukur (to remove hair from one's face) · gld поси- (to remove hair from) · te గొరుగు (to remove hair from) · pl golić się (to remove hair from one's face) · tg тарошидан (to remove hair from) · arz حلق (to remove hair from) · et raseerima (to remove hair from) · slr yiligüsi (to remove hair from) · be галі́цца (to remove hair from one's face) · yue 剃 (to remove hair from) · es lonchear (to slice thin) · ltg škiut (to remove hair from) · hu borotvál (to remove hair from) · rar varu (to remove hair from) · he גילח (to remove hair from) · tr tıraşlamak (to remove hair from) · kl unngiarpoq (to remove hair from one's face) · el ξυρίζω (to remove hair from) · tr tıraş olmak (to remove hair from one's face) · mi heu (to remove hair from) · cs oholit se (to remove hair from one's face) · be бры́цца (to remove hair from one's face) · bg бръсна се (to remove hair from one's face) · lo ປົງຜົມ (to remove hair from) · ru побри́ться (to remove hair from one's face) · mi waru (to remove hair from) · uk бри́тися (to remove hair from one's face) · haw kōhi (to slice thin) · ovd råkå (to remove hair from) · uk голи́ти (to remove hair from) · ru побри́ть (to remove hair from) · ka პარსვა (to remove hair from) · it radere (to remove hair from) · fi ajaa (to remove hair from) · it farsi la barba (to remove hair from one's face) · grc ξυρέομαι (to remove hair from one's face) · bni kolola (to remove hair from) · jv nyukur (to remove hair from) · gl afeitar (to remove hair from one's face) · fr se raser (to remove hair from) · ltg skust (to remove hair from) · ca afaitar-se (to remove hair from one's face) · lv skūt (to remove hair from) · nl scheren (to remove hair from) · lo ແຖ (to remove hair from) · evn хус- (to remove hair from) · ml വടിക്കുക (to remove hair from) · th โกนหนวด (to remove hair from one's face) · ca rapar (to remove hair from) · mnc ᡶᡠᠰᡳᠮᠪᡳ (to remove hair from) · ko 면도하다 (to remove hair from one's face) · fi ajella (to remove hair from) · lo ກັນ (to remove hair from) · se ráhput (to remove hair from) · ro felia (to slice thin) · lo ແຖຜົມ (to remove hair from) · fo raka (to remove hair from) · acw حَلَّق (to remove hair from) · cmn 刮鬍子 /刮胡子 (to remove hair from one's face) · da barbere (to remove hair from) · lo ແຖຫນວດ (to remove hair from one's face) · sl briti (to remove hair from) · fr raser (to remove hair from) · rm far la barba (to remove hair from) · ro rade (to remove hair from) · bo བཞར (to remove hair from) · sq rruaj (to remove hair from) · ja 削る (to slice thin) · da barbere sig (to remove hair from one's face) · uk побри́ти (to remove hair from) · hy թրաշել (to remove hair from) · ru бри́ться (to remove hair from one's face) · bg режа на тънко (to slice thin) · cy torri'n fân (to slice thin) · gl rapar (to remove hair from) · sk oholiť (to remove hair from) · it sbarbarsi (to remove hair from one's face) · uk голи́тися (to remove hair from one's face) · uk поголи́ти (to remove hair from) · be галі́ць (to remove hair from) · be брыць (to remove hair from) · cs holit (to remove hair from) · ba ҡырыныу (to remove hair from one's face) · sid meeda (to remove hair from) · cmn 剃 (to remove hair from) · es resurar (to remove hair from) · hsb wottruhać (to remove hair from) · eo razi (to remove hair from) · kl unngiarpoq (to remove hair from) · cs holit se (to remove hair from one's face) · my ရိတ် (to remove hair from) · az üzünü qırxmaq (to remove hair from one's face) · mk бричи (to remove hair from) · nn barbera (to remove hair from) · es afeitar (to remove hair from) · kw divarva (to remove hair from one's face) · gv baarey (to remove hair from one's face)

shave en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈʃeɪ̯v/
• [ˈʃeɪ̯v]

Etymology

From Middle English shave, from Old English sceafa, from Proto-Germanic *skabô.

Meanings

1. An instance of shaving.
   • I instructed the barber to give me a shave.
2. A thin slice; a shaving.
   • a jolly mealy 'tator, with a shave of butter, and a shake of pepper 1859, Guillaume Sulpice Chevallier, Albert Richard Smith, Sketches of London life & character:
3. (US, dated, slang) An exorbitant discount on a note.
   • yea, tis knowable that the paper money of some of them would not pass, comparatively speaking, much, if any, beyond the smoke of the chimney from whence 'twas issued and circulated before you, or those who had it would have to take a broker's shave on it , at the rate of from a ¼, to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, or more per cent, before it could be used as solvently available means of payment. 1838, Levin Lawrence, No. I. of a series of Letters addressed to N. Biddle, page 13:
   • Being unable to pay the note at maturity, Laws went with Starr to one Snyder, to whom the note was sold at a “shave,” as the parties called it, of 10 per cent. 1854, Horace E. Carter, Albert Gallatin Porter, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Judicature of the State of Indiana; Volume 4, page 192:
4. (US, dated, slang) A premium paid for an extension of the time of delivery or payment, or for the right to vary a stock contract in any particular.
   • He expected to pay the expenses of examining the titles, yet claims that the whole sum paid was a shave. 1878, Court of Appeals, page 7:
   • Where S made a note to raise money upon, and H, agreeing to discount it for a shave of six dollars, received the note and soon returned with the check of V for the amount of such note, less legal discount, payable to the order of S, and he drew the money thereon and having no knowldge of the agreement or of the payment,–Held, that V was not guilty of usury, but was entitled to recover on the note. 1877, William Wait, A Digest of New York Reports: From 1872 to 1876:
   • If this were a dishonest transaction, why did the companies settle? If it were not, why did the heirs submit to a shave of one-half their claims? 1874, The Insurance Journal: A Review of Fire and Life Insurance:
5. A hand tool, mainly for woodworking, consisting of a sharp blade with a handle at each end.
6. (informal) A narrow miss or escape; a close shave.
   • "[…] I had an awful shave getting into the harbour," remarked Archie. 1919, Edward Frederic Benson, Across the Stream:
   • "Was it a near thing?" asked Carrados confidentially. "Well, strictly between ourselves, I don't mind admitting that it might have been something of a shave," confessed Tulloch, with a cheerful grin. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

close shave · shave soap · shave stick · near shave · permanent shave · shaveless · point-shave · midshave · shave ice · preshave · shave-hook · shave and a haircut · green shave · shave horse · shave hook

Translations (17)

sv rakning (an instance of shaving) · es afeitado (an instance of shaving) · de Rasur (an instance of shaving) · pt barbear (an instance of shaving) · ru бритьё (an instance of shaving) · da barbering (an instance of shaving) · zza taşen (an instance of shaving) · mk бричење (an instance of shaving) · tr tıraş (an instance of shaving) · acw حَلْقة (an instance of shaving) · el ξύρισμα (an instance of shaving) · fr rasage (an instance of shaving) · bg бръснене (an instance of shaving) · pl golenie (an instance of shaving) · fi parranajo (an instance of shaving) · ckb تەراش (an instance of shaving) · gl afeitado (an instance of shaving)