efface

---

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈfeɪs/, /ɪˈfeɪs/

Verb

efface (effaces, present participle effacing; past and past participle effaced)

1. (transitive) To erase (as anything impressed or inscribed upon a surface); to render illegible or indiscernible.

   Do not efface what I've written on the chalkboard.

   • 1825, Walter Scott, The Talisman, A.L. Burt Company (1832?), 15:

     An outline of the same device might be traced on his shield, though many a blow had almost effaced the painting.

2. (transitive) To cause to disappear as if by rubbing out or striking out.

   Some people like to efface their own memories with alcohol.

3. (reflexive) To make oneself inobtrusive as if due to modesty or diffidence.

   Many people seem shy, but they really just efface for meekness.

4. (medicine) Of the cervix during pregnancy, to thin and stretch in preparation for labor.

   Some females efface 75% by the 39th week of pregnancy.

Translations

• French: effacer
• Russian: стирать
• Spanish: borrar

Translations

• French: effacer
• Russian: стирать
• Spanish: borrar

Translations

• French: s'effacer
• Russian: вычёркивать

---

This text is extracted from the Wiktionary and it is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy 0.003