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straight razor

straight razor

6 4.9
A razor with a long straight blade that folds into its handle for shaving
  • noun
  • /ˈstreɪt ˈreɪzər/
translation icon : navaja
  • The barber carefully used a straight razor to achieve the closest shave.
  • shave with a straight razor
  • stropping a straight razor
  • handled a straight razor

Examples

  • My grandfather used to shave every morning with a straight razor.

  • I bought a straight razor, a brush, and soap once for an ex; the bastard never used it.

    Blog text (1)
  • That kid in the brown shirt has a straight razor.

  • Next to it lay a cake of soap, a silver straight razor, and a covered dish.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Everyone has shifted to a straight razor without even so much as an adjustment period.

    Blog text (13)
  • It's a straight razor.

  • Abigail shaves the back of Fester's head with a straight razor.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Lloyd's getting shaved by an attendant with a straight razor.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Ratty folds his straight razor and slips it into his breast pocket.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Don Whiskerandos is ministering to Monk Eastman with a straight razor, giving him a close and careful shave.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

razor
vsstraight razor
210 1.0

A sharp tool with a thin metal edge for cutting hair from the face or body

is a specific shaving tool with a long blade that folds into its handle

Antonyms

1 2.6

A razor with a guard that helps stop cuts while shaving

How Close

straight razor
6 4.9
safety razor
1 2.6
shaver
11 1.4
trimmer
6 3.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

straight + razor

The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'straight' (not bent) modifies 'razor' (shaving blade), so the meaning 'a razor with a straight blade' is directly derivable from the parts. This follows a common cross-linguistic compound pattern with no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will understand it.

Etymology

Straight razor comes from the tool's long, straight blade that folds into its handle and the word razor for a sharp blade. Barbers used this sharp razor for a very close shave, so the name now means that old 'shaving tool'.