French word

mèche

Pronunciation

IPA/mɛʃ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounlock

Example

Une mèche de cheveux tombait sur son visage.

A lock of hair fell over her face.

Illustration for mèche (lock)

More examples

Elle a relevé une mèche de cheveux derrière l'oreille.

She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

Core concept

A distinct little strip or bundle projecting from something, like hair falling forward or a cord prepared to burn.

Common phrases

  • une mèche de cheveux

    a lock of hair

  • une mèche sur le front

    a lock of hair on the forehead

Similar words

cheveu: A single hair growing from the head.
frange: Hair hanging evenly over the forehead.

Definition in French

Petite touffe ou section de cheveux séparée du reste de la coiffure ; le même mot désigne aussi le fil ou la partie qui sert de mèche dans une bougie ou un engin pyrotechnique.

Word origin

The French noun mèche is inherited from Old French meche or mesche; the exact older origin is uncertain, but the word has long denoted both hair locks and wicks.

Usage tips

  • In hairdressing, faire des mèches means adding highlights, not merely separating a single lock of hair.

Other meanings

  • wicknoun
  • fusenoun

Opposites

  • calvitiebaldnessnoun

Related words

  • mêchéhighlightedadjective

Word lists with this word