hair clip

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable

   A small object used to hold hair in place or decorate it, often with a spring or snap closure.

   Grammar: Countable; use 'a hair clip' for one and 'hair clips' for more than one.

   Patterns

   • a hair clip
   • wear a hair clip
   • put your hair up with a hair clip

   She pinned her hair back with a silver hair clip.

   I bought a pack of colorful hair clips for my daughter.

   His hair clip kept slipping out during the game.

Word forms

Common combinations

wear a hair clip

She likes to wear a hair clip when she exercises.

a silver hair clip

He gave her a silver hair clip for her birthday.

a pack of hair clips

I need to buy a pack of hair clips before school starts.

fasten your hair with a hair clip

She fastened her hair with a hair clip before the interview.

Synonyms and how they differ

barrette

A barrette is a type of hair clip, usually a decorative one that snaps shut; hair clip is the broader, everyday term.

hairpin

A hairpin is a thin, U-shaped piece of wire, while a hair clip is usually larger and has a clasp or spring.

Word family

hairclip noun

A less common one-word spelling of the same object.

Commonly confused: hair clip or paper clip?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “hair clip”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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