The word "bald" is spelled with four letters, but its pronunciation can be tricky for non-native English speakers. The IPA phonetic transcription for "bald" is /bɔːld/, which means that the "a" sound is pronounced like that in "law" or "daunt." Additionally, the "l" sound is usually silent, making this word two syllables instead of the expected one. Correct spelling and pronunciation of words like "bald" are essential to accurately communicate in English.
Bald is an adjective that is commonly used to describe someone who does not have hair on their head, or lacks a substantial amount of hair. It typically refers to a condition where the hair follicles on the scalp have ceased to produce hair. When a person is bald, their scalp is usually smooth, visibly showing no hair growth or very minimal hair that may be shorter, thinner, or lighter in color. Baldness can occur naturally as part of the aging process or can be an outcome of medical conditions, such as alopecia or certain diseases, hormonal imbalances, or side effects of medical treatments like chemotherapy.
Beyond its use to describe hair loss on the head, "bald" can also be employed metaphorically to depict other objects or surfaces that lack their usual covering or adornment. For instance, a tree may be referred to as bald during winter when it has shed all its leaves. Similarly, a landscape may be described as bald if it has minimal vegetation. In these contexts, baldness suggests a visible absence or scarcity of expected features, often giving an impression of simplicity or starkness.
The term "bald" also finds use in common idiomatic expressions, such as "bald-faced lie" or "bald truth." These idioms imply a directness, lack of embellishment, or unvarnished truthfulness, suggesting a sense of clarity or nakedness in communication or presentation.
Without hair over a greater or lesser portion of the scalp.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Wanting hair; destitute of natural covering; naked; inelegant; in bot, without beard or awn; having a white mark on the face.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "bald" originates from the Old English word "beald" or "bæld", which meant "having white hair or a white spot" rather than referring to a lack of hair. Over time, its meaning shifted to describe a person with little or no hair on their head. The Germanic root of "bald" is believed to be "balþaz", which means "white" or "shining". Thus, the etymology of "bald" reflects the historical association between hair color and baldness.