# beard

/ˈbɪɹd/ (US) · /bˈiəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beard
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. facial hair

noun · CEFR A1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. animal/plant hair

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. social cover

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often used in the context of celebrities or historical figures hiding their private lives.

### 4. to confront

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Commonly appears in the idiom 'to beard the lion in his den'.

## Examples

- He decided to grow a beard for the winter.
- The actor had to shave his long beard for the new movie role.
- While some cultures view a full beard as a symbol of wisdom and maturity, others prefer a clean-shaven look for formal professional environments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.