beard
beard Lexical Profile
beard Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A growth of hair on the chin and lower cheeks of a person's face, especially of an adult man.
"He decided to grow a thick beard during the cold winter months."
A tuft of hair, bristles, feathers, or similar filaments located beneath the chin or beak of certain animals, such as a goat or turkey, or the silky hairs on an ear of grain.
"The mountain goat is easily recognized by its curved horns and distinct chin beard."
A person who accompanies or dates someone of the opposite sex specifically to conceal the other person's true romantic relationship or sexual orientation (used informally).
"In classic Hollywood biographies, studios often arranged for an actress to act as a beard for a leading actor."
• verb
To boldly confront, oppose, or defy a formidable person or danger face to face.
"The reformer was not afraid to beard the corrupt officials in their own council chamber."
To remove the fibrous tuft or silky filaments (the beard) from a mussel, oyster, or other shellfish prior to cooking.
"Before steaming the mussels in white wine, be sure to scrub the shells and beard them thoroughly."
• Rhymes for beard
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English beard, of West Germanic origin, ultimately tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *bhardh- meaning 'beard'.