WordGarden.ioeyelash
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈaɪlæʃ/
US
- /ˈaɪˌlæʃ/
Meanings
Noun
one of the short hairs growing along the edge of an eyelid
Beyond the definition
An eyelash is one of the short, curved hairs that grow along the edge of your eyelid. These small hairs do more than add to the way your eyes look. Their main job is to help protect your eyes from dust, dirt, and other tiny things in the air. You can think of them as little guards for your eyes.
People often notice long eyelashes because they can make the eyes stand out, and many use mascara to make them more visible. At the same time, a loose eyelash in your eye can feel very annoying. In stories, fluttering eyelashes are often used to show shyness, attraction, or nervousness.
An eyelash is a fine hair that grows along the edge of the eyelid. Eyelashes, taken together, form a natural border around the eye in humans and many other mammals. Their most important role is protection. They help keep out dust, dirt, and other small particles that might irritate or harm the eye. When something brushes against them, they can trigger a blink reflex, which helps protect the eye quickly.
Eyelashes also help with light. They can reduce glare and give a bit of shade to the eye's surface. At the same time, they have a strong beauty role in everyday life. People may notice them as a sign of softness, beauty, or expression, and many use mascara, false lashes, or extensions to make them look longer, darker, or fuller.
The length, thickness, and curl of eyelashes can vary a lot from person to person. These differences are shaped by natural factors such as genetics. Sometimes people lose eyelashes because of health problems or irritation, while others change their look with cosmetic products and treatments.
So an eyelash is both practical and expressive: it helps protect the eye, but it also affects how the face looks and how emotion is described. It is a very small part of the body, yet it plays an important role in daily life.
Examples
- 1
Physical appearance
The baby had long, dark eyelashes.
- 2
Eye irritation
Wait a second, I think I have an eyelash in my eye.
- 3
Cosmetics
She put on false eyelashes before the wedding.
- 4
Flirtation
He knew she was joking when she batted her eyelashes at him.
- Phrasebat your eyelashes
try to look attractive in a playful way
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- eyelashnoun
Forms
- eyelashespluralnoun