aftershave

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   A liquid with a pleasant smell that a man puts on his face after shaving.

   Grammar: Can be countable (a bottle of aftershave) or uncountable (a splash of aftershave).

   Patterns

   • put on aftershave
   • wear aftershave
   • a bottle of aftershave

   He splashed on some aftershave before leaving for work.

   She bought him a bottle of aftershave for his birthday.

   The strong smell of aftershave filled the bathroom.

2. 2noununcountable

   A liquid that you put on your skin to make it feel better after shaving.

   Grammar: Used without 'a' or 'an' when talking about the product in general.

   Patterns

   • use aftershave
   • apply aftershave
   • soothe with aftershave

   This aftershave contains aloe vera to calm the skin.

   He uses a gentle aftershave to avoid irritation.

   Apply aftershave after shaving to reduce redness.

Word forms

Common combinations

splash on aftershave

He splashed on aftershave after his shower.

a bottle of aftershave

I bought a bottle of aftershave for my dad.

smell of aftershave

The smell of aftershave lingered in the room.

wear aftershave

He wears aftershave only on special occasions.

Synonyms and how they differ

cologne

Cologne is a general term for a scented liquid, often used by anyone; aftershave is specifically for after shaving.

perfume

Perfume is usually stronger and more expensive; aftershave is lighter and used on the face.

Word family

shave verb

To cut hair off the skin with a razor.

shaver noun

An electric tool for shaving.

Commonly confused: aftershave or after shave?

Practice

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