What does glabrous mean?
Glabrous is a formal adjective meaning smooth and entirely free of hair or bristles. Botanists use it for leaves, stems, and fruits whose surfaces lack hairs; zoologists and anatomists use it for parts of animals or humans that are naturally hairless. The word is especially associated with scientific description, so it is rarely the first choice in ordinary speech, where “hairless,” “smooth,” or “bare” may sound more natural. A surface can be glabrous without being shiny, since the term identifies the absence of hair rather than a particular texture or degree of polish. In medical usage, “glabrous skin” refers to skin lacking terminal hair, as distinct from areas such as the scalp or beard. The word is worth knowing because it expresses a precise biological condition compactly and distinguishes the absence of hair from unrelated qualities such as roughness, color, or moisture.
adjectiveSmooth and entirely free of hair or bristles. In biology, it describes a body, body part, or plant surface lacking hairs or bristles.
- Smooth and without hair or bristles.
"The botanist noted the stem's smooth, glabrous surface."
"The leaves are glabrous, with no fine hairs covering their surface."
"The condition left areas of smooth, glabrous skin on her arms."
Its Latin ancestor meant both “smooth” and “hairless,” two qualities English compressed into a single technical adjective.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does glabrous come from?
Glabrous was borrowed into English in the 19th century from Latin glaber, meaning “smooth” or “hairless.” The Latin word is traced to a Proto-Indo-European root associated with smoothness or slipperiness. Its English relatives include glabrate, glabrescent, and glabrity, which retain the same Latin base.
Related word forms
How glabrous is actually used
This is formal, specialized English used chiefly in botany, zoology, anatomy, and dermatology. It is more precise and less natural in everyday speech than “hairless” or “bare,” and unlike “shaven,” it can describe a naturally hairless surface.