Hairgrowth

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process by which hair strands develop and lengthen on the scalp or other parts of the body ; the natural or stimulated increase in the amount or density of hair ; the biological mechanism involving follicle activity resulting in new hair production
2. The phenomenon of hair extending from follicles as it matures and thickens ; the enhancement or restoration of hair density over time ; the cyclical growth phase of hair involving cell division and keratinization in follicles
3. The gradual lengthening and augmentation of hair fibers through cellular growth ; any treatment or condition promoting thicker, longer hair ; the ongoing cycle of hair follicle renewal and hair strand formation on human skin

Etymology: Hairgrowth is a plain compound, built from "hair" and "growth" with no hyphen. "Hair" comes from Old English "hǣr," which has cognates across the Germanic languages, and "growth" comes from the verb "grow," an Old English word that originally meant to thrive or increase in size. Joined together, the pair describes the lengthening of hair on the head or body. The compound is a transparent one, so there is no hidden story behind it. Its literal sense has barely shifted: "growth" in the sense of an increase in size has been used in English since the Middle English period, and attaching it to "hair" gives a direct description of the process. Writers have used the word mainly in cosmetics, medicine and haircare, where it names the rate or pattern of hair lengthening.

Synonyms: hair development, hair production, hair proliferation, follicle growth

Antonyms: hair loss, alopecia, hair shedding