Pronunciation: [ʌnhˈe͡ə] (IPA) 
The word "unhair" is spelled as /ʌnˈhɛr/. The first part of the word is pronounced as "un" which means "not" or "the opposite of". The second part of the word pronounced as "hair" refers to strands that grow on the human scalp or on the body of animals. Therefore, "unhair" means to remove or shed hair. This word might be used in different contexts, such as beauty treatments, pet grooming or medical procedures.
Unhair is a transitive verb that refers to the action of removing hair from a person or an animal, usually by plucking, shaving, or otherwise depilating the hair follicles. The term can also be used in a figurative sense to describe the act of removing or eliminating something that is perceived as undesirable or unwanted.
In a literal sense, when one unhairs something or someone, they are effectively getting rid of the hair that covers their body or a specific area. This can involve pulling out hair strands manually or using tools, such as tweezers, wax, or a razor. The purpose of unhairing can vary, ranging from cosmetic reasons (for personal grooming or aesthetic purposes) to practical purposes (such as in animal husbandry or veterinary practices).
In a figurative sense, unhairing can be used to describe processes or actions that involve removing or eliminating something that is deemed unwanted, obsolete, or problematic. This can extend beyond physical hair to encompass any kind of unwanted element or attribute. For instance, one might unhair a textile to remove loose threads, unhair a manuscript by removing irrelevant or outdated content, or unhair a team by firing underperforming members. In such contexts, unhairing implies a deliberate and purposeful act of removal or purification to achieve a desired outcome.
Overall, the term unhair encompasses both literal and figurative actions of removing hair or eliminating unwanted elements, illustrating its versatility in various contexts.
The word "unhair" is derived from the combination of the prefix "un-" and the noun "hair".
The prefix "un-" is derived from Old English and has the sense of "not" or "opposite of". It is used to indicate negation or reversal of the action denoted by the word that follows it.
The noun "hair" can be traced back to Old English, derived from the Proto-Germanic word "hēr" and the Proto-Indo-European root "*kér" or "*kerə" which means "hair". It has consistently referred to the strands that grow on the human body or the fur of animals.
When "un-" is combined with "hair", the resulting word "unhair" indicates the action of removing or depriving something of hair, or the state of being without hair.
