eyelash
B2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
One of the short hairs growing on the edge of an eyelid.
A cosmetic enhancement or extension applied to mimic or augment the appearance of natural eyelashes; occasionally used metaphorically to refer to a very short distance ('by an eyelash').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A countable noun; primary anatomical function is protective (to keep debris from entering the eye). Heavily associated with beauty, femininity, and expression. The plural 'eyelashes' is far more common in general use than the singular.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Minor spelling conventions may apply in compounds (e.g., eyelash curler).
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + eyelash/esflutter/bat + eyelash/esapply + false eyelasheslose + an eyelashVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not bat an eyelash/eyelid (US/UK respectively) (to show no surprise or concern)”
- “by an eyelash (by a very small margin)”
- “hang on by one's eyelashes (to barely manage to survive)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In the cosmetics and beauty industry (e.g., 'The eyelash extension market is growing rapidly.').
Academic
Rare outside of biological/medical texts describing anatomy or dermatological conditions.
Everyday
Very common in conversations about appearance, makeup, and personal grooming.
Technical
In ophthalmology, dermatology, and cosmetic surgery.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She expertly eyelashed her client with individual extensions.
American English
- To achieve that look, you need to carefully eyelash each natural hair.
adjective
British English
- The salon offers a full eyelash treatment menu.
American English
- She bought a new eyelash growth serum.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has very long eyelashes.
- My eyelash is in my eye.
- I'm going to buy some false eyelashes for the party.
- He didn't bat an eyelash when he heard the surprising news.
- Applying eyelash extensions requires considerable skill and patience.
- The politician won the election by an eyelash.
- The study correlated eyelash length with optimal protection against eye moisture evaporation.
- Her voluminous, meticulously curled eyelashes became her signature aesthetic.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Your EYE has a fringe that can LASH out to protect it from dust.
Conceptual Metaphor
EYELASHES ARE A FRAME (for the eye/window to the soul); EYELASHES ARE WEAPONS/TOOLS (for flirting/protection).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'eye lash' (глазная ресница) – simply 'ресница' is sufficient.
- Note that 'eyelash' is singular; Russian often uses plural 'ресницы' for the general concept.
Common Mistakes
- Using uncountable form (e.g., 'She has beautiful eyelash') – it is countable.
- Misspelling as 'eyelache' (confusion with 'ache').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary biological function of eyelashes?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is countable. You have eyelashes (plural), and you can lose an eyelash (singular).
'Lash' is a common, slightly more informal synonym for 'eyelash'. 'Lash' can also mean a whip or a stroke of a whip.
It means by a very small margin or a tiny amount, e.g., 'He missed the train by an eyelash.'
In professional beauty contexts, it can be used informally as a verb meaning to apply eyelash extensions, e.g., 'I'm getting eyelashed tomorrow.'