Definition of tonsure

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ton·sure    (tnshr) KEY 

NOUN:

1. The act of shaving the head or part of the head, especially as a preliminary to becoming a priest or a member of a monastic order.
2. The part of a monk's or priest's head that has been shaved.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
ton·sured, ton·sur·ing, ton·sures

To shave the head of.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin tnsra, from Latin, a shearing, from tnsus, past participle of tondre, to shear; see tem- in Indo-European roots