tonsure

ton·sure  (tnshr)

n.

1. The act of shaving the head or part of the head, especially as a preliminary to becoming a priest or a member of a monastic order.

2. The part of a monk's or priest's head that has been shaved.

tr.v. ton·sured, ton·sur·ing, ton·sures

To shave the head of.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin tnsra, from Latin, a shearing, from tnsus, past participle of tondre, to shear; see tem- in Indo-European roots.]

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tonsure

Noun

a. (in certain religions and monastic orders) the shaving of the head or the crown of the head only

b. the part of the head left bare by such shaving

Verb

[-suring, -sured]

to shave the head of [Latin tonsura a clipping]

tonsured adj

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tonsure

1. the act or process of cutting the hair, especially as a religious rite or custom.
2. the shaved part of the head, usually the crown, of a member of a religious order. — tonsorial, adj.

See also: Hair

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1. the act or process of cutting the hair, especially as a religious rite or custom.
2. the shaved part of the head, usually the crown, of a member of a religious order. — tonsorial, adj.

See also: Monks and Nuns

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tonsure - the shaved crown of a monk's or priest's head pate, poll, crown - the top of the head
	2.	tonsure - shaving the crown of the head by priests or members of a monastic order shave, shaving - the act of removing hair with a razor
Verb	1.	tonsure - shave the head of a newly inducted monk shave - remove body hair with a razor