TONSURE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tonsure mean? 

• TONSURE (noun)
  The noun TONSURE has 2 senses:

1. the shaved crown of a monk's or priest's head

2. shaving the crown of the head by priests or members of a monastic order

  Familiarity information: TONSURE used as a noun is rare.

• TONSURE (verb)
  The verb TONSURE has 1 sense:

1. shave the head of a newly inducted monk

  Familiarity information: TONSURE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TONSURE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The shaved crown of a monk's or priest's head

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("tonsure" is a kind of...):

crown; pate; poll (the top of the head)

Derivation:

tonsure (shave the head of a newly inducted monk)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Shaving the crown of the head by priests or members of a monastic order

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("tonsure" is a kind of...):

shave; shaving (the act of removing hair with a razor)

Derivation:

tonsure (shave the head of a newly inducted monk)

• TONSURE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tonsure    ... he / she / it tonsures   
Past simple: tonsured   
Past participle: tonsured   
-ing form: tonsuring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Shave the head of a newly inducted monk

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "tonsure" is one way to...):

shave (remove body hair with a razor)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

tonsure (shaving the crown of the head by priests or members of a monastic order)

tonsure (the shaved crown of a monk's or priest's head)

 Context examples 

We have as much to fear from the tonsure as from the hauberk.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At the further end, in two high chairs as large as that of the Abbot, though hardly as elaborately carved, sat the master of the novices and the chancellor, the latter a broad and portly priest, with dark mirthful eyes and a thick outgrowth of crisp black hair all round his tonsured head.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)