boutique

[boo-teek]

noun

1. a small shop or a small specialty department within a larger store, especially one that sells fashionable clothes and accessories or a special selection of other merchandise.

2. any small, exclusive business offering customized service.

   Our advertising is handled by a new Madison Avenue boutique.

3. Informal.,  a small business, department, etc., specializing in one aspect of a larger industry.

   one of Wall Street's leading research boutiques.

adjective

1. of, designating, or characteristic of a small, exclusive producer or business.

   one of California's best boutique wineries.

boutique

/ buːˈtiːk /

noun

1. a shop, esp a small one selling fashionable clothes and other items

2. 1. of or denoting a small specialized producer or business

   2. ( as modifier )

      a boutique winery

3. a small specialized stall or shopping area within a supermarket, esp selling fresh meat, seafood, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of boutique¹

1760–70; < French, Middle French, probably < Old Provençal botica, botiga (with Late Greek ē > ī ) < Greek apothḗkē; apothecary, bottega

Word History and Origins

Origin of boutique¹

C18: from French, probably from Old Provençal botica , ultimately from Greek apothēkē storehouse; see _apothecary

Example Sentences

"I've battled to keep our handmade jewellery boutique alive but grief has drained my strength and I must close our doors," it said.

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A book club meets a cat cafe at Long Beach’s Cool Cat Collective, a gallery and boutique committed to fighting cat overpopulation in L.A.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Pendry Chicago – On Michigan Avenue, right in the heart of the action and within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile, sits Pendry Chicago, a luxury boutique hotel boasting two Michelin keys.

Read more on Salon

The boutique shop also represented so-called below-the-line workers, including script supervisors, costumers and camera operators.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was still warm outside on an early September evening as the last of the daytime visitors left the cat boutique.

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Related Words

• booth 
• store