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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

efface

Verb

IPA /ɪˈfeɪs/

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UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

To remove a mark or trace so that it can no longer be seen or recognised.

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Pronunciation

efface/ɪˈfeɪs/

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  1. An old surface bears a clear inscription

  2. Weather wears away the marks

  3. The inscription can no longer be seen

To efface a mark is to remove or erase its visible trace.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

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  1. Years of rain had effaced the inscription on the garden stone.
  2. Repeated cleaning had effaced the faded markings on the laboratory equipment.

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To remove a mark or trace so that it can no longer be seen or recognised.
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efface — To remove a mark or trace so that it can no longer be seen or recognised.

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To remove a mark or trace so that it can no longer be seen or recognised.

Compare: Years of rain had effaced the inscription on the garden stone.

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Word origin

From French effacer, formed from an element meaning away and face.

Did you know?

Efface also appears in efface yourself, meaning to avoid drawing attention to yourself.

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efface

/ɪˈfeɪs/ (Verb)

“This verb is formal. For an everyday pencil mark, erase is usually more natural.”

englishskillstudio.com