A beard is the hair that grows on a man's face, particularly on his chin, cheeks, and upper lip. While some men shave their beards off every morning, others let them grow long and full. Beards come in all shapes and styles: some are neatly trimmed, others bushy and wild, some are just a short stubble, and others flow down like a wizard's beard in a fantasy story.

Throughout history, beards have meant different things in different cultures. Ancient Egyptian pharaohs wore fake beards as symbols of power. Many U.S. presidents in the 1800s wore beards, but no president has had one since 1913. In some religions and cultures, growing a beard is an important tradition.

The word can also be used as a verb. When you beard someone, you confront them boldly, especially about something difficult. If you beard the lion in his den, you're facing danger directly on its home turf.