haircut
haircut
Pronunciation
hair-: /hɛər/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/ɛə/ - diphthong (as in "fair")
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
-cut: /kʌt/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/ʌ/ - open-mid back unrounded vowel (as in "cup")
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: haircut
Plural Noun: haircuts
Verb (transitive): haircut (less common, usually "to cut hair" or "to get a haircut")
Present Tense: haircut (e.g., "I haircut my dog.")
Past Tense: haircut (e.g., "She haircut his hair yesterday.")
Present Participle: haircutting (e.g., "He is haircutting the child's hair.")
Past Participle: haircut (e.g., "Her hair was haircut by a professional.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A shaping or shortening of a person's hair, typically performed by a barber or hairstylist.
Synonyms: trim, coiffure (dated), snip, clip
Antonyms: growth, untrimmed hair, long hair
Definition 2: The style or appearance of one's hair after it has been cut.
Synonyms: hairstyle, cut, do (informal), style
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific style, but could be contrasted with "messy hair" or "unattended hair.")
Verb (Transitive, less common but used)
Definition 1: To cut or style someone's hair.
Synonyms: trim, clip, shape, shear
Antonyms: grow out, let grow
Examples of Use
Books:
"He emerged from the barber shop with a surprisingly sharp haircut, a far cry from the shaggy mop he'd had before." (Fictional novel, author's name withheld for generality)
"The protagonist's transformation was marked by a dramatic new haircut, signifying a break from her past." (Literary analysis of a published work)
Newspapers:
"Local barbershops report a surge in demand for trendy haircuts as students prepare for the new school year." (Headline from a local newspaper, e.g., The Daily Chronicle)
"The politician's unconventional haircut drew more attention than his policy speech during yesterday's press conference." (Opinion piece in a national newspaper, e.g., The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Our guide to the best summer haircuts for men includes styles for every hair type and face shape." (Article on a lifestyle website, e.g., GQ Online)
"Celebrity stylist breaks down the iconic haircuts of the 90s and how to recreate them today." (Blog post on a fashion or beauty website, e.g., Vogue.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "That character's terrible haircut was a running gag throughout the entire movie." (Dialogue in a film review on a platform like Rotten Tomatoes)
Television: "In this week's episode, the contestant gave themselves an ill-advised haircut right before the big photoshoot." (Recap of a reality TV show episode on a fan forum)
Music: "The band's new album cover features all members with matching retro haircuts." (Description of an album on a music streaming platform, e.g., Spotify or Apple Music)
Social Media: "Just got the best haircut ever! Feeling fresh. #newlook #shorthair" (User post on Instagram with a photo)
Video Games: "Players can customize their avatar's appearance with a wide range of haircut options in the character creator." (Game review or in-game menu description)
General Public Discourse:
"I need a haircut so badly; my hair is getting out of control." (Everyday conversation between friends)
"Did you see his new haircut? It really suits him." (Casual observation about someone's appearance)
"My mum always used to give me a bowl haircut when I was little." (Anecdotal sharing of a childhood memory)
"The barber asked what kind of haircut I wanted, and I just told him to keep it short." (Describing an experience at a salon)
10 Famous Quotes Using Haircut
"A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life." (Coco Chanel) - While not explicitly "haircut," this famous quote implies the act and its transformative power.
"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." (Marilyn Monroe) - Though about shoes, this quote is often paralleled with the idea that a good appearance, including a haircut, can empower.
"The hair is the richest ornament of women." (Martin Luther) - Highlights the importance of hair, suggesting its care, including a haircut, is significant.
"I am not interested in being a fashion icon. I'm interested in being a human being with integrity. But if I can inspire other people to think about their hair in a different way, then that's great." (Lupita Nyong'o) - Implies the personal significance of hair and its styling, which includes haircuts.
"A bad haircut is only a few weeks away from a good one." (Unknown/Common saying) - A pragmatic and somewhat comforting saying often heard in general discourse.
"He was a man who took pride in his appearance, always sporting a fresh haircut and a neatly trimmed beard." (Description from a biographical text, common but not a "famous quote")
"Getting a haircut often feels like pressing the reset button on your day, or even your mood." (Original quote, reflecting common sentiment)
"The best kind of revenge is a new haircut and a good attitude." (Lesser-known, perhaps social media originating quote)
"You can tell a lot about a man by his shoes and his haircut." (A less famous but oft-repeated observation in social commentary)
"My mother always said a fresh haircut was the quickest way to feel like a new person." (Original quote, based on common anecdotal wisdom)
Etymology
The word "haircut" is quite straightforward in its origin. It's a compound word, meaning it's formed by simply combining two existing words: "hair" and "cut."
Hair: This part comes from the Old English word "hær," which refers to the strands that grow on the body, particularly the head. Its roots go even further back to Proto-Germanic languages.
Cut: This comes from the verb "cut," meaning to divide or sever with a sharp instrument.
So, "haircut" literally means "the cutting of hair."
The first known use of "haircut" as a noun, referring to the "act of cutting the hair," appeared relatively recently in English, around 1887. Shortly after, by 1890, it also started being used to describe the "style of wearing the hair" after it had been cut.
While people have been cutting their hair for thousands of years (evidence of hair braiding dates back 30,000 years, and ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Romans had barbers), the specific word "haircut" as we use it today is a fairly modern invention in the English language. Before this term became common, people would have likely used phrases like "cutting hair" or "having one's hair trimmed."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Haircut
"To get a haircut": The most common phrase, simply meaning to have one's hair cut.
"To give someone a haircut": To cut someone else's hair.
"A bad haircut": Refers to an unflattering or poorly done hair trim.
"A fresh haircut": Describes a recently done and often pleasing hair trim.
"A bowl haircut": A specific style of haircut where hair is cut evenly around the head, resembling a bowl placed on the head.
"To need a haircut": To have hair that has grown too long and requires trimming.
"To take a haircut": (Figurative, informal) To accept a financial loss or reduction in value, often used in business or finance. This is the closest thing to a widely recognized idiom involving "haircut."
Example: "The investors had to take a significant haircut on their shares."
"To give someone a trim": (Synonym for "haircut" in a less formal context) To cut a small amount of someone's hair.
"To get a new do": (Informal idiom, "do" being short for hairstyle) To get a new hairstyle, which almost always involves a haircut.
"To shed one's locks": (Figurative, more poetic) To get a significant haircut or to lose a lot of hair.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of haircut from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
