Main Entry: beau·ti·ful

Pronunciation: \ˈbyü-ti-fəl\

Function: adjective

Date: 15th century

1 : having qualities of beauty : exciting aesthetic pleasure
2 : generally pleasing : excellent

— beau·ti·ful·ly \-f(ə-)lē\ adverb

— beau·ti·ful·ness \-fəl-nəs\ noun

synonyms beautiful, lovely, handsome, pretty, comely, fair mean exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure. beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses <beautiful mountain scenery>. lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite <a lovely melody>. handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance <a handsome Georgian mansion>. pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness <a painter of conventionally pretty scenes>. comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to <the comely grace of a dancer>. fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness <fair of face>.