widow's peak
C1Informal, Descriptive
Definition
Meaning
A V-shaped point of hair growing in the centre of the forehead.
A distinctive hairline pattern, often genetically inherited. It can be associated with folklore or superstition about early widowhood.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a physical characteristic. While the name has superstitious origins, its modern use is generally neutral and descriptive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
The superstitious connotation (foretelling early widowhood) is largely historical and not a active part of modern meaning.
Frequency
Low frequency; used specifically when describing appearance.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] has/possesses a widow's peak.A widow's peak is visible/noticeable on [possessor].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare. Only in very specific contexts like casting, modelling, or character description for media.
Academic
Used in genetics, anthropology, or forensic science when discussing heritable physical traits.
Everyday
Used in casual descriptions of a person's appearance.
Technical
Used in dermatology, trichology, and human biology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His widow's-peak hairline was quite distinctive.
- She has a strong widow's-peak feature.
American English
- The actor's widow's-peak hairstyle became his trademark.
- It's a classic widow's-peak pattern.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother has a widow's peak.
- What is that V-shape in your hair called? It's a widow's peak.
- His pronounced widow's peak is a family trait inherited from his mother's side.
- Character descriptions in the script noted the villain's sharp widow's peak.
- Forensic anthropologists sometimes note the presence of a widow's peak when reconstructing facial features from skeletal remains.
- The geneticist explained that while a widow's peak is a dominant trait, its expressivity can vary greatly.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a black widow spider sitting at the peak (top) of a V-shaped web on someone's forehead.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEAK/SUMMIT for a pointed projection.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation. Not 'пик вдовы' or 'вдовий пик'. The accepted calque is 'вдовий мысик' or descriptive phrase 'V-образная линия роста волос'.
Common Mistakes
- Using plural 'widows' peak' (incorrect apostrophe placement).
- Capitalising the term as if it's a proper noun.
- Misspelling as 'window's peak'.
Practice
Quiz
In which field would the term 'widow's peak' most likely be used technically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a natural hairline shape and is not inherently linked to male or female pattern baldness, though a receding hairline may change its appearance.
It can be temporarily concealed with hairstyling or permanently altered with procedures like laser hair removal or electrolysis, as it is a pattern of hair growth.
Yes, in simple Mendelian genetics, the allele for a widow's peak is often taught as an example of a dominant trait over a straight hairline.
The term originates from 18th-century English folklore, suggesting the V-shape resembled the peak of a hood worn by widows in mourning, and was superstitiously thought to foretell early widowhood.