HAIR'S-BREADTH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hair's-breadth mean? 

• HAIR'S-BREADTH (noun)
  The noun HAIR'S-BREADTH has 1 sense:

1. a very small distance or space

  Familiarity information: HAIR'S-BREADTH used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HAIR'S-BREADTH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A very small distance or space

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

hair; hair's-breadth; hairsbreadth; whisker

Context example:

they lost the election by a whisker

Hypernyms ("hair's-breadth" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

 Context examples 

The bull-dog missed by a hair's-breadth, and cries of praise went up as White Fang doubled suddenly out of danger in the opposite direction.

(White Fang, by Jack London)