razor
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a tool with a very sharp blade used to remove hair from the face or body.
n.a sharp-edged instrument used for shaving hair from the skin.
Simple“He changed the blade on his razor before he started shaving.”
In context“The barber used a traditional straight razor to give the customer a precise and clean shave around the neckline.”
Synonymsshaverblade - 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a rule in thinking that helps you choose the simplest explanation and ignore unlikely ones.
n.a philosophical principle or heuristic that allows for the elimination of unlikely explanations or unnecessary assumptions.
Simple“Occam's razor suggests that the simplest explanation is usually the right one.”
In context“Applying the philosophical razor to the data allowed the researchers to discard several overly complex hypotheses in favour of a more elegant solution.”
UsageOften appears in the names of specific principles, such as 'Occam's razor'.
Teacher's tipThis is a high-level academic term; students will most likely encounter it in the phrase 'Occam's razor'.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to cut hair very close to the skin using a sharp blade.
v.to shave or remove hair using a razor; functions as a transitive verb.
Simple“The stylist razored the ends of her hair to give it a modern look.”
In context“The technician carefully razored the patient's skin to prepare the area for the surgical incision.”
“They tend to have high walls and fences, often topped with razor wire, bars on windows, CCTV and controlled access and internal partitions.”
“Razor wire, steel doors, surveillance cameras and uniformed officers typically surround daily life inside, and firm rules govern nearly all aspects of in-person visitation.”
From Middle English rasour, from Old French rasour, from raser (“to scrape, to shave”). More at rat. By surface analysis, raze + -or. Displaced the native Old English sċierseax (literally “shaving knife”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.