baldness

/ˈbɔːldnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɔːldnəs/ (ame, ipa)

baldness — noun

1. the condition that exists when a person has lost most of the hair from their sca

1.名詞B1
釋義

the condition that exists when a person has lost most of the hair from their scalp, so that little or none remains on the top of the head

例句

Diego started losing his hair in his mid-twenties, and his baldness was almost complete by the age of forty.

baldness was almost complete — notes degree of hair loss

The clinic offers several treatments for baldness, including medications and hair transplants.

同義詞
  • hair loss

    more general term that can describe temporary or permanent loss anywhere on the body, while baldness is specifically scalp-related

  • alopecia

    the medical term for hair loss; more formal and clinical than baldness

  • thinning hair

    describes the early stage of hair loss, while baldness suggests more advanced loss

反義詞
  • hairiness

    having a lot of hair, especially on the head

用法筆記

Uncountable — you cannot say 'a baldness' or 'baldnesses'. To describe a person, use the adjective 'bald' instead ('He is bald,' not 'He has a baldness').

常見錯誤

❌My uncle suffers from a baldness.
✅My uncle is bald.
💡Baldness is an uncountable noun and is rarely used with the indefinite article 'a'.
❌He has baldness on his legs.
✅He has no hair on his legs.
💡Baldness specifically refers to the scalp or head, not hair loss elsewhere on the body.

2. a way of expressing something that is extremely plain and direct, without using

2.名詞C1
釋義

a way of expressing something that is extremely plain and direct, without using extra words or trying to make the message sound less harsh or shocking

例句

The baldness of the lawyer's opening statement left the jury with no doubts about the case.

The baldness of — pattern for figurative uses

Folami valued the baldness of her mentor's criticism because it helped her improve much faster.

同義詞
  • bluntness

    very similar in meaning, but bluntness can suggest rudeness while baldness focuses on the lack of extra words

  • directness

    a more neutral and common word for saying something straight, without the harsh connotation of baldness

  • plainness

    focuses more on the lack of decoration in language, not necessarily the shock value

  • frankness

    emphasises honesty and openness; less harsh than baldness

反義詞
  • evasiveness

    avoiding direct answers or clear statements

  • diplomacy

    using careful language to avoid causing offence

文法句型

the baldness of + noun

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively in formal, written contexts such as reports, reviews, or literary criticism. The figurative sense is always singular and uncountable, typically followed by 'of' plus an abstract noun (truth, statement, style, criticism).

常見錯誤

❌The baldness of the garden made it easy to maintain.
✅The bareness / simplicity of the garden made it easy to maintain.
💡The figurative meaning of baldness relates to blunt speech or writing, not to a lack of decoration in physical objects.
❌I like the baldness of this design.
✅I like the simplicity of this design.
💡Baldness (figurative) carries a connotation of harshness or unpleasant directness, not neutral simplicity.