moustache

IPA/ˈmʌstæʃ/
KK[mˈʌstˌæʃ]IPA/ˈmʌstæʃ/

moustache — noun

  • moustachesingular
  • moustachesplural

1. hair that grows on a man's upper lip, often trimmed or styled into a particular

1.nounA2
Definition

hair that grows on a man's upper lip, often trimmed or styled into a particular shape

Example

Tariro grew a thick black moustache during his six-month trip to India.

grow + adjective + moustache

The actor shaved off his famous moustache for the new movie role.

shave off + moustache

Common collocations
  • thick moustache
  • bushy moustache
  • neat moustache
  • trimmed moustache
  • waxed moustache
  • grow a moustache
  • shave off a moustache
  • sport a moustache
Synonyms
  • mustache

    American English spelling variant

  • stache

    informal slang, often used in casual conversation or humorously

Usage Note

In British English the spelling is 'moustache'; in American English 'mustache' (without the first 'o') is also widely used.

Common Mistakes

He grew a beard on his upper lip.
He grew a moustache on his upper lip.
A 'beard' grows on the chin and cheeks; a 'moustache' is specifically above the upper lip.

Word family

  • moustached
    adjectiveB2
  • moustachioed
    adjectiveC1
  • mustache
    nounA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Moustache', 'beard', 'goatee', 'sideburns', and 'whiskers' all refer to facial hair, but they cover different areas. A 'moustache' grows only on the upper lip. A 'beard' covers the chin, cheeks, and jaw. A 'goatee' is a small pointed beard on the chin, often worn with a moustache. 'Sideburns' are strips of hair growing down the side of the face in front of the ears. 'Whiskers' is a general, slightly old-fashioned term for any facial hair, but is more commonly used for animals. For a clean look, a man might keep just a trimmed moustache, while a full beard covers most of the lower face.

moustachebeardgoateesideburnswhiskers

Common collocations

Nouns

  • wax
  • trim
  • comb
  • style

Phrases

  • sport a moustache
  • trim one's moustache
  • grow out a moustache

Etymology

GreekItalianFrenchEnglish

The word 'moustache' came into English from French 'moustache', which came from Italian 'mostaccio'. The Italian word goes back to Greek 'mustax', meaning 'upper lip' or 'hair on the upper lip'. The spelling 'mustache' (without the first 'o') became common in American English in the 19th century.