hairline meaning

Hairline

Definition:

1. Boundary of Hair on the Scalp: The edge or contour where a person’s hair starts on the forehead and around the scalp.
2. Fine Line or Crack: A very thin line or barely noticeable crack, often used to describe a small fracture on surfaces like glass or ceramics.

Usage:

1. Describing a Person’s Hair: “He combed his hair back to reveal his receding hairline.”
2. Describing a Small Line or Crack: “The porcelain vase had a hairline fracture.”

Etymology:

The term “hairline” is a compound word formed from “hair” (from Old English hǣr) and “line” (from Latin ’linea’ meaning ’thread or string’). The usage referring to the edge of the hair on the scalp dates back to the 19th century, while its use to describe a fine line or crack is first recorded in the early 20th century.

Pronunciation:

/ˈhɛrˌlaɪn/

Synonyms:

1. For boundary of hair: hair boundary, hair edge
2. For fine line or crack: fine crack, fissure, fracture

Antonyms:

1. For boundary of hair: n/a (no direct antonyms)

2. For fine line or crack: gap, chasm, rift

3. His receding hairline became more noticeable as he approached his forties.

4. She carefully drew a hairline sketch of the landscape in her notebook.

5. The barber asked if I wanted my hairline squared off or rounded.

6. After the accident, he had a small scar along his hairline.

7. The hairline fracture in the bone required only a few weeks of rest to heal.