- OE. shavenschaven, AS. scafansceafan; akin to D. schaven, G. schaben, Icel. skafa, Sw. skafva, Dan. skave, Goth. scaban, Russ. kopate to dig, Gr. ska`ptein, and probably to L. scabere to scratch, to scrape. Cf. ScabShaftShape
- To cut or pare off from the surface of a body with a razor or other edged instrument; to cut off closely, as with a razor; as, to shave the beard.
- To make bare or smooth by cutting off closely the surface, or surface covering, of; especially, to remove the hair from with a razor or other sharp instrument; to take off the beard or hair of; as, to shave the face or the crown of the head; he shaved himself.I'll shave your crown for this.The laborer with the bending scythe is seenShaving the surface of the waving green.
- To cut off thin slices from; to cut in thin slices.Plants bruised or shaven in leaf or root.
- To skim along or near the surface of; to pass close to, or touch lightly, in passing.Now shaves with level wing the deep.
- To strip; to plunder; to fleece.Colloq
