hair
hair
/heə(r)/
1 uncountable the substance that looks like a mass of fine threads growing on a person's head She has long dark hair.
brown/black/blonde/red/grey/white hair
straight/curly/wavy hair
to comb/brush your hair
to wash/dye your hair
She often wears her hair loose.
I'll be down in a minute. I'm doing (= brushing, arranging, etc.) my hair.
I'm having my hair cut this afternoon.
He’s losing his hair (= becoming bald).
hair colour/loss
a hair salon
He ran both hands through his thinning hair.
Her blond hair fell over her eyes.
She had beautiful auburn hair.
She had shoulder-length black hair.
a new shampoo for dull or dry hair
His hair curls naturally.
His hair was tousled and he looked as if he'd just woken up.
His hair was shaved close to his head.
I don't like the way she's arranged her hair, do you?
I'm trying to grow my hair (= let it grow longer).
I've decided to have my hair permed.
She showered, fixed her hair, and applied make up.
They had styled my hair by blowing it out straight.
Why don't you put your hair up for this evening?
Her only hair accessory was a headband.
how to cope with hair loss
2 uncountable hair growing on the body of a person or an animal body/facial/pubic hair
waxing, and other hair removal methods
3 countable a piece of hair from a person or an animal There's a hair in my soup.
The rug was covered with cat hairs.
She pushed a stray hair behind her ear.
4 -haired (in adjectives) having the type of hair mentioned
dark-haired
long-haired
5 countable a thing that looks like a fine thread growing on the leaves and stems of some plants see also angel hair, cross hairs
Idioms
get in somebody’s hair
(informal) to annoy somebody by always being near them, asking them questions, etc.
a/the hair of the dog (that bit you)
(informal) alcohol that you drink in order to make you feel better when you have drunk too much alcohol the night before
hang by a hair/thread
(of a person’s life) to be in great danger
Topics Dangerc2
keep your hair on
(British English, informal) used to tell somebody to stop shouting and become calm when they are angry
let your hair down
(informal) to relax and enjoy yourself, especially in a lively way
It’s about time you let your hair down and had some fun!
make somebody’s hair stand on end
(informal) to shock or frighten somebody
a chilling tale that will make your hair stand on end
not harm/touch a hair of somebody’s head
to not hurt somebody physically in any way
not have a hair out of place
(of a person) to look extremely clean and neat
not see hide nor hair of somebody/something
(informal) not to see somebody/something for some time
I haven't seen hide nor hair of her for a month.
not turn a hair
to show no surprise, shock, etc. when something unusual or unexpected happens
She listened to his confession without turning a hair.
split hairs
to pay too much attention in an argument to differences that are very small and not important
Topics Opinion and argumentc2
tear your hair (out)
(informal) to show that you are very angry or anxious about something
She's keeping very calm—anyone else would be tearing their hair out.
I felt like tearing my hair out in frustration.
Word Origin
Old English hǣr, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch haar and German Haar.