beard

n. the hair that grows on the lower part of a man's face.

n. the growth of hair on the chin, cheeks, and jaw of a human male.

“He decided to grow a beard during his long summer holiday.”

“The actor spent months cultivating a thick, rugged beard to better embody the character of a nineteenth-century explorer.”

n. hair-like parts on certain animals, birds, or plants like wheat.

n. any of various hair-like appendages in animals or plants, such as the awn of a grain or the feathers near a bird's beak.

“The goat had a long, tufted beard under its chin.”

“The botanist noted the distinct length of the beard on the barley variety, which served as a primary identifier for the species.”

Technical

n. a person who goes out with someone to hide that person's true romantic interests.

n. a person used as a companion to conceal the sexual orientation or romantic involvement of another.

“In the old movie, the actress acted as a beard for her famous friend.”

“Historians often debate whether the socialite served as a beard for the prince to deflect public scrutiny from his private affairs.”

Slang · Informal

v. to face or oppose someone in a very brave and direct way.

v. to confront or oppose someone boldly and defiantly, often in their own territory.

“She decided to beard the manager in his office to demand a raise.”

“The young diplomat had to beard the dictator in his own palace to deliver the ultimatum from the council.”

Literary