style

¹style

noun \ˈstī(-ə)l\

Definition of STYLE

1

: designation, title

2

a : a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing or speech) <writes with more attention to style than to content> <the flowery style of 18th century prose> b : a distinctive manner or custom of behaving or conducting oneself <the formal style of the court> <his style is abrasive>; also : a particular mode of living <in high style> c : a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed <a unique style of horseback riding> <the classical style of dance>

3

a : stylus b : gnomon 1b c : the filiform usually elongated part of the pistil bearing a stigma at its apex — see flower illustration d : a slender elongated process (as a bristle) on an animal

4

: a distinctive quality, form, or type of something <a new dress style> <the Greek style of architecture>

5

a : the state of being popular : fashion <clothes that are always in style> b : fashionable elegance c : beauty, grace, or ease of manner or technique <an awkward moment she handled with style>

6

: a convention with respect to spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and typographic arrangement and display followed in writing or printing

— style·less \ˈstī(-ə)l-ləs\ adjective

— style·less·ness noun

Examples of STYLE

1. I don't like the flowery style of his writing.
2. She has a unique style of singing.
3. a baseball pitcher with an unusual style
4. She writes with more attention to style than to content.
5. The room was decorated in modern style.
6. The car is available in several different styles.
7. the Greek style of architecture
8. The range of clothing styles has become more varied.
9. His management style is abrasive.

Origin of STYLE

Middle English stile, style, from Latin stilus spike, stem, stylus, style of writing; perhaps akin to Latin instigare to goad — more at stick

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to STYLE

Synonyms: fashion, locution, manner, mode, phraseology, tone, vein

Related Words: address, delivery, elocution; archaism, colloquialism, regionalism; acceptation, connotation, denotation, expression, idiom

Near Antonyms: classic, standard

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at fashion