nude

[ nood, nyood ]

adjective

, nud·er, nud·est.

1. naked or unclothed, as a person or the body.

   Synonyms: exposed, undressed, uncovered

2. without the usual coverings, furnishings, etc.; bare:

   a nude stretch of land laid waste by brush fires.

3. (of a photograph, painting, statue, etc.) being or prominently displaying a representation of the nude human figure.
4. Law. made without a consideration or other legal essential:

   a nude contract.

5. having the color nude.

noun

1. a sculpture, painting, etc., of a nude human figure.
2. an unclothed human figure.
3. the condition of being unclothed:

   to sleep in the nude.

4. (no longer in common use; now considered offensive) a light grayish-yellow brown to brownish-pink color.
5. a color that falls within the spectrum of human skin colors.

nude

/ njuːd /

adjective

1. completely unclothed; undressed
2. having no covering; bare; exposed
3. law
   1. lacking some essential legal requirement, esp supporting evidence
   2. (of a contract, agreement, etc) made without consideration and void unless under seal

noun

1. the state of being naked (esp in the phrase in the nude )
2. a naked figure, esp in painting, sculpture, etc

Usage Alert

See flesh color.

Pronunciation Note

See new none.

Derived Forms

• ˈnudely, adverb
• ˈnudeness, noun

Other Words From

• nudely adverb
• nudeness noun
• semi·nude adjective
• sub·nude adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nude¹

1525–35; < Latin nūdus; naked none

Word History and Origins

Origin of nude¹

C16: from Latin nūdus

Example Sentences

The Oscar-winning actress put nude photo thieves in their place with one perfect statement.

From The Daily Beast

In November 2002, a detainee who had been held partially nude and chained to the floor died, apparently from hypothermia.

From The Daily Beast

Nude prisoners were kept in a central area, and walked around as a form of humiliation.

From The Daily Beast

Actually, Brown lost the Senate race to Democrat incumbent Jean Shaheen because Scott once posed nude for Cosmo.

From The Daily Beast

There's a scene in which a nude Amy Elliott-Dunne, played with committed gusto by Rosamund Pike, is washing off in the shower.

From The Daily Beast

I stood up, for the exciting near-nude body of the woman who had caused Nokomee's outburst was too close, too intimately relaxed.

From Project Gutenberg

Onto this preparation the studies drawn from the nude model are "squared up," and the drawing corrected again from the nude model.

From Project Gutenberg

The prince and I were left alone with the two Jivros, who stood beside the nude figure of the alien Croen.

From Project Gutenberg

But to Bierce's mind, "noble and nude and antique," this mid-Victorian draping and bedecking of "unpleasant truths" was abhorrent.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the first nude statue of the Renaissance made for Cosimo de' Medici before his exile.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• naked