hair

hair

noun, often attributive \ˈher\

Definition of HAIR

1

a : a slender threadlike outgrowth of the epidermis of an animal; especially : one of the usually pigmented filaments that form the characteristic coat of a mammal b : the hairy covering of an animal or a body part; especially : the coating of hairs on a human head

2

: haircloth

3

a : a minute distance or amount <won by a hair> b : a precise degree <aligned to a hair>

4

obsolete : nature, character

5

: a filamentous structure that resembles hair <leaf hair>

— hair·less adjective

— hair·less·ness noun

— hair·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— in one's hair

: persistently and annoyingly in one's presence <can't work with you in my hair all day>

— out of one's hair

: out of one's way : not in one's hair <keep the children out of his hair for a while>

Examples of HAIR

1. He plucked a hair from his arm.
2. There are dog hairs all over my coat.
3. The hair on her arms is blond.
4. He has a lot of hair on his chest.
5. He got his hair cut last week.
6. He has a thick head of hair.
7. a balding man who is losing his hair
8. He won the race by a hair.
9. He was a hair off on the count.

Illustration of HAIR

Origin of HAIR

Middle English, from Old English hǣr; akin to Old High German hār hair

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to HAIR

Synonyms: ace, hairbreadth (or hairsbreadth), hairline, hop, skip, and jump, inch, neck, shouting distance, step, stone's throw

Antonyms: country mile, long haul, mile

Related Words: bit, crumb, dab, iota, jot, minim, mite, particle, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), trace, trifle

Near Antonyms: infinity, light-year

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with HAIR

air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare