Sekirov Dictionary

beard

UK /bɪəd/US /bɪɹd/

noun 15
verb 6
forms 3
phrases 1

noun15

hair that a man lets grow around and below his mouth, sometimes down to his neck
The cluster of small feathers at the base of the beak in some birds.
The appendages to the jaw in some cetaceans, and to the mouth or jaws of some fishes.
The hairs of the labial palpi of moths and butterflies.
•
Long, hairlike feathers that protrude from the chest of a turkey.
- While all toms—adult male turkeys—have beards, nearly 10 percent of hens also have one, albeit a much stubbier, wispier version. — 2022
•
(slang) A fake customer or companion; an intermediary.
- To get his way, Roberts employed a bit of developer's cunning: rather than approach Galardi directly, he sent a friend, Alan Meyers, as a “beard”. — 2024
•
(slang) One who helps to conceal infidelity in a monogamous relationship by acting as a cover.
- What are you talking about, I should be the beard? I don't wanna be a beard. — 1984
•
(slang) A woman who accompanies a gay man, or a man who accompanies a lesbian, in order to give the impression that the person being accompanied is heterosexual.
- Charlotte: Smith is not gay. Miranda: Of course not. Charlotte: So this makes you his beard. — 2004
The long or stiff hairs on a plant; the awn.
A barb or sharp point of an arrow or other instrument, projecting backward to prevent the head from being easily drawn out.
The curved underside of an axehead, extending from the lower end of the cutting edge to the axehandle.
The byssus of certain shellfish.
The gills of some bivalves, such as the oyster.
That part of the underside of a horse's lower jaw which is above the chin, and bears the curb of a bridle.
(old-fashioned) That part of a type which is between the shoulder of the shank and the face.

verb6

To take by the beard; to seize, pluck, or pull the beard of (a man), in anger or contempt.
•
To boldly and bravely oppose or confront, often to the chagrin of the one being bearded.
- Robin Hood is always shown as bearding the Sheriff of Nottingham.
•
(slang) Of a gay man or woman: to accompany a gay person of the opposite sex in order to give the impression that they are heterosexual.
- Lesbians and homosexual men bearding one another (i.e. providing each other with the public appearance of being heterosexual); […] — 1993
To deprive (an oyster or similar shellfish) of the gills.
Of bees, to accumulate together in a beard-like shape.
(no longer used) To grow hair on the chin and jaw.

forms

bearded · bearding · beards

Phrases with beard

beard the lion in his den
To confront an adversary in his or her own environment.

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