shave

1 of 2

verb

shaved; shaved or shaven ˈshā-vən How to pronounce shave (audio) ; 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
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
2
: a thin slice : shaving
3
: an act or the process of shaving

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Lush lumps of rock crab arrived in a flying saucer made of ice and covered with kohlrabi shaved thin as a layer of frost. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, video posted by the Salvadoran government showed detainees stripped and having their heads shaved before being frog-marched in handcuffs and chains at their feet and waist into the prison. Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Try to save room for dessert and pop in the backyard to Koko Kakigori, a small shop serving shave ice and sweets, like mango and sticky rice donuts. Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025 New & Noteworthy The Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro Series is built for a smooth, close and comfortable head shave that boosts confidence. Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shave

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of shave was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shave. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

shave

1 of 2 verb
shaved; shaved or shaven ˈshā-vən How to pronounce shave (audio) ; 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

More from Merriam-Webster on shave

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