Main Entry: ¹taw·dry

Pronunciation: \ˈtȯ-drē, ˈtä-\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): taw·dri·er; taw·dri·est

Etymology: tawdry lace a tie of lace for the neck, from St. Audrey (St. Etheldreda) †679 queen of Northumbria

Date: 1655

: cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality; also : ignoble <a tawdry attempt to smear his opponent>

synonyms see gaudy

— taw·dri·ly \-drə-lē\ adverb

— taw·dri·ness \-drē-nəs\ noun