shave

1 of 2

verb

ˈshāv 

shaved; shaved or shaven ˈshā-vən  ; shaving

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove a thin layer from

b

: to cut off in thin layers or shreds : slice

c

: to cut off closely

2

a

: to sever the hair from (the head or another part of the body) close to the roots

b

: to cut off (hair or beard) close to the skin

3

a

: to discount (a note) at an exorbitant rate

b

: deduct, reduce

c

: to conspire to score fewer (points) than one is capable of (as to affect gambling outcomes)

4

: to come close to or touch lightly in passing

intransitive verb

1

: to cut off hair or beard close to the skin

2

: to proceed with difficulty : scrape

shave

2 of 2

noun

1

: shaver sense 3

2

: a thin slice : shaving

3

: an act or the process of shaving

Synonyms

Verb

• bob
• clip
• crop
• cut
• cut back
• dock
• lop (off)
• nip
• pare
• poll
• prune
• shear
• snip
• trim

Examples of shave in a Sentence

Verb

She cut herself while shaving her legs.

The sheep were all shaved.

He shaves every morning before breakfast.

I cut myself shaving this morning.

She shaves her dog's fur in the summer.

He shaved some butter from the container.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The accelerated pathway shaves time off the degree by eliminating some electives in the curriculum and the transition-to-residency coursework that’s usually offered in the fourth year. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

That's a more modest bump to the specs of the previous S5 than the four-cylinder car, although one that still shaves a couple of tenths off the 0–60 time. —ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025

Noun

Even for the most experienced among us, a smooth shave is hardly a slam dunk. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 27 Mar. 2025

Gillette Labs Heated Razor Gold Edition Buy him a better facial hair game with this high-tech heated razor meant to simulate the feeling of a hot towel shave. —Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English scafan; akin to Lithuanian skobti to pluck, Latin scabere to scratch, and perhaps to Greek koptein to cut — more at capon

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shave

• close shave

Rhymes for shave

• brave
• cave
• clave
• crave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• pave
• rave

Kids Definition

shave

1 of 2 verb

ˈshāv 

shaved; shaved or shaven ˈshā-vən  ; shaving

1

a

: to cut off in thin layers or shreds

b

: to cut off closely

2

a

: to cut the hair from (as the head) close to the roots

b

: to cut off hair or beard close to the skin

3

: to come close to or touch lightly in passing

the tire shaved the curb

shave

2 of 2 noun

1

: a tool for shaving or cutting thin slices

2

: an act or process of shaving especially the beard

3

: a narrow escape

a close shave