shave
shave /ʃ'eɪv/ (shaves shaving shaved)
1 [VERB] V, V n, V n with off
When a man shaves, he removes the hair from his face using a razor or shaver so that his face is smooth.
He took a bath and shaved before dinner...
He had shaved his face until it was smooth...
It's a pity you shaved your moustache off.
[N-COUNT]
Shave is also a noun.
He never seemed to need a shave.
● shaving [N-UNCOUNT]
...a range of shaving products.
2 [VERB] V n, V n with off
If someone shaves a part of their body, they remove the hair from it so that it is smooth.
Many women shave their legs...
If you have long curly hair, don't shave it off.
3 [VERB] V n, V n
If you shave someone, you remove the hair from their face or another part of their body so that it is smooth.
The doctors shaved his head...
She had to call a barber to shave him.
4 [VERB] V n with off, V n off n
If you shave off part of a piece of wood or other material, you cut very thin pieces from it.
I set the log on the ground and shaved off the bark...
She was shaving thin slices off a courgette.
5 [VERB] V n off/from n, V n
If you shave a small amount off something such as a record, cost, or price, you reduce it by that amount.
She's already shaved four seconds off the national record for the mile...
Supermarket chains have shaved prices.
6
see also shaving
7 [PHRASE] N inflects
If you describe a situation as a close shave, you mean that there was nearly an accident or a disaster but it was avoided.
I can't quite believe the close shaves I've had just recently.
1 [VERB] V, V n, V n with off
When a man shaves, he removes the hair from his face using a razor or shaver so that his face is smooth.
He took a bath and shaved before dinner...
He had shaved his face until it was smooth...
It's a pity you shaved your moustache off.
[N-COUNT]
Shave is also a noun.
He never seemed to need a shave.
● shaving [N-UNCOUNT]
...a range of shaving products.
2 [VERB] V n, V n with off
If someone shaves a part of their body, they remove the hair from it so that it is smooth.
Many women shave their legs...
If you have long curly hair, don't shave it off.
3 [VERB] V n, V n
If you shave someone, you remove the hair from their face or another part of their body so that it is smooth.
The doctors shaved his head...
She had to call a barber to shave him.
4 [VERB] V n with off, V n off n
If you shave off part of a piece of wood or other material, you cut very thin pieces from it.
I set the log on the ground and shaved off the bark...
She was shaving thin slices off a courgette.
5 [VERB] V n off/from n, V n
If you shave a small amount off something such as a record, cost, or price, you reduce it by that amount.
She's already shaved four seconds off the national record for the mile...
Supermarket chains have shaved prices.
6
see also shaving
7 [PHRASE] N inflects
If you describe a situation as a close shave, you mean that there was nearly an accident or a disaster but it was avoided.
I can't quite believe the close shaves I've had just recently.