WordLens

shave

1 of 2verb
/ʃeɪv/
Forms:shaves,shaving,shaved,shaved
1

to remove hair from the body using a razor or similar tool

B1transitive
  • He shaves his face every morning to keep it smooth.
  • She shaves her legs regularly to maintain smooth skin.
  • The barber shaved the customer's face with precision.
  • After swimming, he shaves his armpits for better hygiene.
2

to cut thin slices or layers from the surface of something

transitive
  • The carpenter shaves thin layers from the wood to achieve a smooth surface for the tabletop.
  • The chef is shaving truffles over the pasta dish to enhance its flavor and aroma.
  • She carefully shaved a layer of icing from the cake to create a flat surface for decorating.
  • The sculptor shaves marble from the block to reveal the intricate details of the sculpture.
  • He carefully shaved thin layers of chocolate from the block to garnish the dessert with delicate curls.
Synonyms:
trim
3

to move very close to something without hitting it

transitive
  • The plane shaved the mountain peak as it made its descent.
  • The cyclist shaved the edge of the pavement but managed to stay on track.
  • The ship shaved the rocky shoreline while navigating the narrow channel.
  • The car shaved the fence but avoided a collision.
  • Her hand shaved the lamp as she reached for her phone on the table.
4

to remove hair from the skin by cutting it very close

  • He prefers to shave every morning to keep his face smooth.
  • After the workout, he decided to shave his stubble off.
  • She noticed he had just shaved, as his face was extra smooth.
  • He didn't like the feeling of stubble, so he shaved every evening.
  • He didn’t have time to shave properly and left a bit of stubble.
Synonyms:
plane
5

to turn something into thin, small pieces

transitive
  • He shaved the block of parmesan into fine shavings for the salad.
  • The woodworker shaved the log into thin curls for kindling.
  • She shaved the soap bar into tiny pieces to make homemade detergent.
  • The machine shaved the ice into fluffy piles for the dessert.
  • The chef shaved the chocolate block into delicate flakes for garnish.
6

to reduce the value of a financial note or payment by charging an excessively high fee

transitive
  • He was upset when the company shaved his payment by a large percentage.
  • They agreed to shave the check at an unreasonably high fee.
  • The lender shaved the promissory note, offering less than its full value.
  • She realized the company had shaved the note significantly when she saw the final amount.
  • The businessman was disappointed to find out the bank shaved his investment return.
Synonyms:
knock off