shave
B1Neutral, common in everyday and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To remove hair from the body, especially the face, using a razor or similar tool.
To cut off a thin layer from a surface; to reduce or remove by a small margin; to come very close to something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to intentional hair removal with a blade. Figurative uses (e.g., 'shave off time', 'shave the truth') imply a slight, precise reduction or a close call.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. 'Dry shave' is a common term in the UK for shaving without cream or water. Verb forms are the same.
Connotations
Neutral for personal grooming. Figurative use ('close shave') is equally common in both dialects.
Frequency
Very high and similar frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + shave + (Object): He shaves (his beard).[Subject] + shave + off + [Object]: She shaved off her moustache.[Subject] + shave + [Object] + from/off + [Surface]: Shave the bark off the branch.[Subject] + shave + [Measure] + off + [Object]: We shaved five minutes off our time.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a close shave (a narrow escape from danger)”
- “shave the truth (to tell only part of the truth)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in figurative use: 'We need to shave costs from the budget.'
Academic
Rare, unless describing a technical process (e.g., in woodworking).
Everyday
Very common for personal grooming.
Technical
Used in contexts like machining ('shave metal'), carpentry, and surgery ('shave biopsy').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He has a proper wet shave every morning.
- That cyclist had a close shave with a lorry.
American English
- He needs to shave before the interview.
- The car shaved the guardrail but wasn't damaged.
adjective
British English
- He bought a new shaving brush.
- The shave gel was nearly empty.
American English
- He prefers a shaving cream over foam.
- The shave kit came with a mirror.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My father shaves every day.
- He cut himself while shaving.
- I need to shave off my beard for the new job.
- He had a close shave when he almost fell off the ladder.
- The company is looking to shave 10% off its operating costs.
- The surgeon will shave a small sample of tissue for analysis.
- The politician was accused of shaving the truth to make the statistics look more favourable.
- The athlete shaved a full second off the world record.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SHAVE sounds like SAVE - imagine saving time by having a quick SHAVE in the morning.
Conceptual Metaphor
REDUCTION IS SHAVING (e.g., shaving points off a score, shaving time off a record).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'брить' for non-hair contexts. In English, you don't 'shave' vegetables (you 'peel' or 'grate' them).
- The noun 'shave' refers to the act/result ('I need a shave'), not the tool (razor/shaver).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I shave my face with a shave.' Correct: 'I shave with a razor/shaver.'
- Incorrect tense: 'I have shaved my beard yesterday.' Correct: 'I shaved my beard yesterday.'
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'shave' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a regular verb: shave - shaved - shaved. The archaic past participle 'shaven' is now only used adjectivally (e.g., 'clean-shaven').
'Shave' typically means to cut hair very close to the skin, removing it completely. 'Trim' means to cut hair shorter, but not remove it entirely, often for neatness.
Yes, commonly. For example: 'I need a shave.' or 'That was a close shave!'
It means a narrow escape from an accident, danger, or unpleasant situation.