bald
bald Lexical Profile
bald Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having a scalp wholly or partly lacking hair.
"My grandfather went completely bald by the time he turned forty."
Lacking the usual or natural covering, such as feathers, vegetation, or tire tread.
"The mechanic warned us that driving on bald tires in the rain is extremely dangerous."
Stated plainly and directly without any attempt to disguise, soften, or embellish; blunt or unadorned.
"The audit report presented the bald facts of the company's financial decline."
Marked with white on the head or face (used specifically of certain birds and mammals).
"We spotted a bald eagle perched high in the branches above the river."
• verb
To lose hair on the scalp and become progressively hairless.
"Many men in his family begin to bald in their late twenties."
• noun
American A high, rounded mountain summit or ridge in the southern Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States that is naturally devoid of trees and covered in grass or dense shrubs.
"Hikers along the Appalachian Trail paused on the grassy bald to admire the panoramic view of the surrounding valleys."
Word Nuance & Usage
When describing birds or animals (such as the bald eagle), 'bald' retains its older sense of 'white-headed' rather than 'hairless'. Do not confuse with its homophone 'bawled' (past tense of 'bawl', meaning cried loudly).
• Rhymes for bald
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'balled', originally meaning having a white patch or blaze on the head (as in the 'bald eagle'), before shifting to mean lacking hair or natural covering.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.