verb / noun

shave

SHAYV/ʃeɪv/

To remove a very thin surface layer.

The woman shaves a thin layer of foam and hair from her leg.

A woman shaves her lower leg with a safety razor, leaving a clean strip through shaving foam and visible short leg hair.

Etymology

Old English sceafan described scraping or paring something away. Removing hair with a razor is a specific application of that broader action, which also covered polishing and scraping surfaces.

In context

SML9:19

I have to shave your whole head well shave my head shave my head okay all right kid I shaved your whole head so now you're bald like me

SML Movie: Junior's Karma!

More examples

A fresh razor blade gives him a smooth shave.
She shaves Parmesan over the warm pasta.
Taking the shortcut shaves ten minutes off our commute.

Forms

shave · shaves · shaved · shaven · shaving

shaving noun — A thin strip cut from a surface.

shaver noun — A device for removing hair near the skin.

Similar words

scrape: Removes surface material by dragging an edge across it.
pare: Cuts away an outer layer, often with a knife.
skim: Removes a thin layer from the top of liquid.