depilate
C1-C2 / Low FrequencyFormal / Technical / Medical
Definition
Meaning
To remove hair from the body.
The specific action of removing hair, typically from a part of the body, by mechanical or chemical means.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Depilate implies a deliberate, complete, or technical process of hair removal. It is less casual than 'shave' or 'wax'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally formal/technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily clinical, cosmetic, or procedural. No regional difference in connotation.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both regions; used in professional contexts (beauty, dermatology, medicine).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] depilate [O] (transitive)[S] have [O] depilated (causative)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As smooth as a depilated peach.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing for beauty salons, e.g., 'Our clinic uses advanced lasers to depilate.'
Academic
Found in dermatology or anthropology texts discussing hair removal practices.
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'shave', 'wax', or 'pluck' are preferred.
Technical
Standard term in cosmetic procedure manuals and medical pre-op instructions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The beautician will depilate the client's legs with a wax strip.
- It is common to depilate the area prior to a tattoo.
American English
- The laser clinic uses new technology to depilate large areas quickly.
- Patients must depilate the surgical site the night before the procedure.
adverb
British English
- N/A (Extremely rare; 'depilatingly' is non-standard).
American English
- N/A (Extremely rare; 'depilatingly' is non-standard).
adjective
British English
- The depilated skin was smooth and ready for the cream.
- A professionally depilated treatment area reduces risk.
American English
- She preferred a depilated look for the summer months.
- The depilated region must be kept clean and dry.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some people depilate their arms.
- She went to the salon to have her legs depilated.
- The new at-home device promises to depilate safely and efficiently.
- Ancient Egyptians used various methods to depilate their bodies.
- Dermatologists often recommend specific creams to chemically depilate sensitive skin.
- The study compared patient satisfaction after using different technologies to depilate the treatment site.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DEPIlate' as taking the 'PILE' of hair off.
Conceptual Metaphor
HAIR IS A COVERING / SMOOTHNESS IS CLEANLINESS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'депилировать' (depilate, correct), 'деполировать' (to depolish, incorrect).
- The English word is a formal verb; Russian speakers might incorrectly use the noun 'депиляция' as a verb by direct translation.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /diːˈpaɪleɪt/.
- Confusing with 'deplete' (to use up resources).
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'I had a depilate' instead of 'I had a depilation').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'depilate' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In technical usage, they are often synonymous. However, some purists distinguish 'epilate' as removing hair from the root (e.g., waxing, plucking) and 'depilate' as any method of hair removal, including at the surface (e.g., shaving). In practice, they are used interchangeably.
No, it is a low-frequency, formal/technical term. In everyday conversation, people use specific verbs like 'shave', 'wax', 'pluck', or the noun 'hair removal'.
It is almost exclusively used for human hair removal. For animals, 'shear', 'clip', or 'dehair' are more common. For objects, 'defoliate' (plants) or 'strip' are used.
The primary noun is 'depilation'. The agent noun is 'depilator' (a person or device that removes hair).