beard

beard — noun

1. the hair on a person's chin, jaw, and cheeks when it is left unshaven

1.名詞A1
釋義

the hair on a person's chin, jaw, and cheeks when it is left unshaven

例句

Rashida grew a short beard after leaving the army.

grow a beard

By winter, the fisherman had a thick beard over his chin.

have a thick beard

同義詞
  • facial hair

    is the broad general term and can include a moustache on its own

  • whiskers

    is more informal and may suggest fuller or rougher facial hair

  • stubble

    means very short new beard growth after shaving

  • goatee

    names a smaller beard mainly on the chin

反義詞
  • clean-shaven

    means having no beard because the face is shaved

文法句型

grow a beard

have a beard

shave off a beard

用法筆記

Usually refers to the full area of facial hair on the chin and cheeks. Distinguish from noun/2, which is the hanging hair under a goat's jaw.

常見錯誤

My father has a beard above his lip.
My father has a moustache above his lip.
💡hair only on the upper lip is a moustache, not a beard.
He has many beards on his face.
He has a beard.
💡one person normally has one beard, not several.

2. a pointed tuft hanging from the bottom of a goat's jaw

2.名詞
釋義

a pointed tuft hanging from the bottom of a goat's jaw

例句

The old goat's white beard swung as it chewed the rope.

a goat's beard

On the farm, each young goat had a small beard by spring.

同義詞
  • tuft

    is a general word for a small bunch of hair and is less exact

  • tassel

    describes a hanging shape rather than the animal feature itself

文法句型

a goat's beard

have a beard

用法筆記

Almost always used for goats or closely similar animals, not for fur in general. Distinguish from noun/1, which is about human facial hair.

常見錯誤

The goat has long hair under its mouth.
The goat has a long beard.
💡beard is the usual word for this hanging part.

3. the tough thin fibers a mussel uses to fasten itself to rock or wood

3.名詞
釋義

the tough thin fibers a mussel uses to fasten itself to rock or wood

例句

The cook cut away the mussel's beard before dropping it into the pan.

remove a mussel's beard

Several mussels kept their beards, so the cook washed them again.

同義詞
  • threads

    is a simpler description for the thin strands

  • filaments

    is a more technical word for fine thread-like parts

文法句型

remove the beard

a mussel's beard

attach by its beard

用法筆記

Used mainly for mussels and similar shellfish. In cooking, it usually means the part you pull off before steaming or frying them.

常見錯誤

Wash the beard and leave it on the mussels.
Pull off the beard before cooking the mussels.
💡this part is normally removed, not served.

4. someone presented as another person's partner so other people believe an untrue

4.名詞
釋義

someone presented as another person's partner so other people believe an untrue story about that person's private life

例句

At the awards dinner, Eli asked a friend to be his beard.

be someone's beard

For years, the singer's beard appeared with him at public events.

同義詞
  • cover

    is broader and can refer to any person or thing used to hide the truth

  • front

    stresses a false public appearance more than the relationship detail

  • decoy

    emphasizes distraction or deception, not specifically romance

文法句型

be someone's beard

act as a beard

用法筆記

Informal and strongly linked to hiding a real relationship or sexual identity. It often appears in the patterns be someone's beard and act as a beard.

常見錯誤

He grew a beard so reporters would stop asking questions.
He asked a woman to be his beard so reporters would stop asking questions.
💡in this sense, beard is a person, not facial hair.

5. an object, business, or activity used as a cover so someone or something seems h

5.名詞
釋義

an object, business, or activity used as a cover so someone or something seems harmless or honest

例句

The charity website was only a beard for the money scheme.

a beard for + noun

In the novel, the small shop serves as a beard for spies.

serve as a beard

同義詞
  • front

    is the closest everyday word for a false business or activity

  • cover

    is broader and can also describe a protective excuse or role

  • screen

    suggests something placed in front to hide what is really happening

文法句型

a beard for something

serve as a beard

use something as a beard

用法筆記

Less common than noun/4 and usually refers to a plan, business, or public activity rather than a person. Distinguish from noun/4, which is specifically a person pretending to be someone's partner.

常見錯誤

His beard came to the dinner with him.
His beard came to the dinner with him.' / 'The fake charity was a beard for the scam.
💡use noun/4 for a person and noun/5 for a thing or arrangement.

beard — verb