hairline
hairline — adjective
1. used to describe a crack or line that is extremely thin, often so fine that it c
used to describe a crack or line that is extremely thin, often so fine that it can be hard to notice without looking closely.
A hairline crack appeared on the bathroom mirror after Rafael dropped it.
collocation: hairline crack
The engineer spotted a hairline fracture in the concrete beam during the inspection.
collocation: hairline fracture
Karim spotted a hairline split on the antique bowl using his magnifying glass.
Even a hairline gap in the window frame lets cold air in during winter.
The jeweller examined the diamond under a bright light for hairline flaws.
文法句型
hairline + noun (crack, fracture, split, gap, flaw)
用法筆記
This adjective is only used attributively — it must come directly before the noun it describes. You cannot say 'the crack is hairline'; instead say 'the crack is extremely thin' or 'it is a hairline crack.'
常見錯誤
hairline — noun
1. the border on a person's forehead where the hair starts to grow, which can vary
the border on a person's forehead where the hair starts to grow, which can vary in shape and position from person to person.
Min noticed that his hairline had moved back a little over the past few years.
collocation: receding hairline
Evelyn styled her hair so that her natural hairline was visible above her forehead.
The barber carefully trimmed the hair around Anthony's hairline after the haircut.
Chiara has a naturally high hairline, so she often wears bangs to cover it.
文法句型
someone's hairline
a receding / high / low / natural hairline
用法筆記
Frequently paired with descriptors such as receding, high, low, uneven, or natural. 'Receding hairline' is a very common fixed expression that describes the gradual backward movement of the hairline, often due to ageing or genetics.
常見錯誤
2. a very slender mark or break that appears on an object's surface, often resultin
a very slender mark or break that appears on an object's surface, often resulting from damage or wear and barely visible to the naked eye.
Lakan wiped the old photograph and saw a hairline running through the middle.
noun sense: a visible narrow line on a surface
The watchmaker used a tool to repair the hairline on the clock's glass face.
After the earthquake, tiny hairlines spread across the ceiling plaster like spider webs.
The appraiser saw a hairline near the bottom of the vase and lowered the price.
文法句型
a hairline + preposition + on / across / along
用法筆記
Often used in the context of damage to ceramics, glass, metal, or building materials. The plural form 'hairlines' is common when describing networks of fine cracks. Distinguish from the adjective sense (hairline crack): the noun refers to the line itself, while the adjective describes the type of crack.