beauty

beau·ty

noun \ˈbyü-tē\

plural beauties

Definition of BEAUTY

1

: the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit : loveliness

2

: a beautiful person or thing; especially : a beautiful woman

3

: a particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality

4

: a brilliant, extreme, or egregious example or instance <that mistake was a beauty>

5

: bottom 9

Examples of BEAUTY

1. We explored the natural beauty of the island.
2. I'm learning to appreciate the beauty of poetry.
3. We explored the natural beauties of the island.
4. She was one of the great beauties of her time.

Origin of BEAUTY

Middle English beaute, bealte, from Anglo-French, from bel, beau beautiful, from Latin bellus pretty; akin to Latin bonus good — more at bounty

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BEAUTY

Synonyms

aesthetics (also esthetics), attractiveness, beauteousness, beautifulness, comeliness, cuteness, fairness, gorgeousness, handsomeness, looks, loveliness, prettiness, sightliness

Antonyms

grotesqueness, hideousness, homeliness, plainness, ugliness, unattractiveness, unbecomingness, unloveliness, unsightliness

Related Words

allure, appeal, attraction, fascination, glamour (also glamor); charm, delightfulness, elegance, exquisiteness, gloriousness, radiance, radiancy, resplendence, resplendency, splendidness, splendiferousness, sublimeness, sublimity, superbness; desirability, desirableness, foxiness, lusciousness, nubility, pulchritude, seductiveness, sex appeal, sexiness, shapeliness, tastiness, toothsomeness, yumminess; flawlessness, perfection; daintiness, delicacy; flamboyance, flashiness, glossiness, showiness, slickness, splashiness

Near Antonyms

disagreeableness, dreadfulness, foulness, ghastliness, horribleness, loathsomeness, nastiness, offensiveness, repellency, repulsiveness, terribleness, vileness; blemish, flaw, imperfection

Rhymes with BEAUTY

booty, Clootie, cootie, cutie, duty, fluty, fruity, hooty, rooty, snooty, tutti, zooty