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hair definition

hair (her, har)

noun

  1. any of the fine, threadlike outgrowths from the skin of an animal or human being
  2. a growth of these; esp.,
    1. the growth covering the human head
    2. the growth covering all or part of the skin of most mammals
  3. material woven from hair
  4. an extremely small space, margin, degree, etc. to miss by a hair
  5. Bot. a threadlike growth on a plant; trichome

Etymology: ME here < OE hær (akin to Ger haar, Frank *harja) & < ? OFr haire, hair shirt < Frank *harja < IE base *er(s)-, to bristle

adjective

  1. made of or with hair
  2. for the care of the hair hair tonic

Related Forms:

hair Idioms

get in one's hair

☆
Slang to annoy one

hair of the dog (that bit one)

Informal a drink of alcoholic liquor taken as a supposed cure for a hangover

have (or get) by the short hairs

Slang to have (or get) completely at one's mercy

let one's hair down

Slang to be very informal, relaxed, and free in behavior

make one's hair stand on end

to terrify or horrify one

not turn a hair

to show no fear, surprise, embarrassment, etc.; stay calm and unruffled

split hairs

to make petty distinctions; quibble

to a hair

exactly; right in every detail

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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