a very short or imperceptible margin or distance (as modifier): a hair's-breadth escape
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
hair•breadth /ˈhɛrˌbrɛdθ, -ˌbrɛθ/USA pronunciation also hairs•breadth /ˈhɛrzˌbrɛdθ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a very small space or distance:to escape by a hairbreadth.
adj.
- extremely narrow or close:a hairbreadth escape.
hairs•breadth
(hârz′bredth′, -bretth′, -breth′),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a very small space or distance:We escaped an accident by a hairsbreadth.
adj.
- extremely narrow or close.
- 1575–85
hair•breadth
(hâr′bredth′, -bretth′),USA pronunciation n., adj.
- hairsbreadth.
- 1400–50; late Middle English heere brede; see hair, breadth
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