WordGarden.iohair
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈeə/
US
- /ˈhɛr/
Meanings
Noun
the strands that grow from the skin of a person or animal
a very small amount, distance, or degree
a fine threadlike outgrowth on a plant or other organism
Beyond the definition
We all have hair. It is made of fine strands that grow from small follicles in the skin, most noticeably on the head. But "hair" is not just about what is on your head. It can also mean the fine strands that grow on the body, or any very thin, thread-like piece of something.
Think of it like this: you might admire someone's beautiful hair, style your own for a special occasion, or joke that you are pulling your hair out in frustration. The phrase "splitting hairs" means arguing about very small details. English also uses "gray hairs" as a sign of age, experience, or worry.
Hair is made of thin strands of keratin that grow from follicles in the skin of mammals. People usually think of the hair on the head first, but hair also grows on much of the human body, often in a finer and lighter form. It helps with warmth, protection, and touch.
Beyond biology, "hair" is also used for things that are very fine or very thin. A "hair's breadth" means a tiny distance or margin. A "hairline fracture" is a very thin crack. We also use the word in everyday situations, such as complaining about finding a hair in food.
The word also appears in many English idioms. To "let your hair down" means to relax and act more freely. If someone has "not a hair out of place," they look very neat and controlled. If you are "splitting hairs," you are paying too much attention to tiny differences. So the word can talk about the body, personal style, very thin things, and many common expressions in everyday English.
Examples
- 1
Appearance
She has short curly hair.
- 2
Cooking
He tied his hair back before he started cooking.
- 3
Single strand
I found a gray hair on my sleeve this morning.
- Grammara hair
one single strand
- 4
Pet fur
There's cat hair all over my black coat.
- Phrasecat hair
fur from a cat
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Getting ready
Give me ten minutes to do my hair, and then we can leave.
- Phrasedo your hair
wash, brush, or style it
- 6
Haircut appointment
I'm getting my hair cut on Friday.
- Patternget your hair cut
have someone cut it for you
- 7
Weather
The wind kept blowing my hair into my eyes.
- 8
Neat appearance
Even after the long flight, he didn't have a hair out of place.
- Phrasenot a hair out of place
looking very neat
- 9
Relaxing
It was good to go out with old friends and let our hair down.
- Phraselet your hair down
relax and behave freely
- 10
Small differences
We're on the same side, so let's not split hairs about one word.
- Phrasesplit hairs
argue about very small differences
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hairnoun
Forms
- hairspluralnoun