beauty
Americannoun
plural
beauties-
the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).
- Synonyms:
- allure, attractiveness, pulchritude
-
a beautiful person, especially a woman.
- Synonyms:
- belle
-
treatments and products that enhance a person’s physical attractiveness, or the industry associated with this.
She left her career in business administration to pursue her passion in beauty and wellness.
-
a beautiful thing, as a work of art or a building.
-
Often beauties. a beautiful feature or trait in nature or in some natural or artificial environment.
the rugged beauties of our seashore and mountains.
-
an individually pleasing or beautiful quality; grace; charm.
a vivid blue area that is the one real beauty of the painting.
-
Informal. a particular advantage.
One of the beauties of this medicine is the freedom from aftereffects.
-
(often used ironically) someone or something that is extraordinary, remarkable, or amazing; a beaut.
That sunburn is a real beauty!
-
something excellent of its kind.
My old car, now she was a beauty.
adjective
noun
-
the combination of all the qualities of a person or thing that delight the senses and please the mind
-
a very attractive and well-formed girl or woman
-
informal an outstanding example of its kind
the horse is a beauty
-
informal an advantageous feature
one beauty of the job is the short hours
-
informal a light-hearted and affectionate term of address
hello, my old beauty!
interjection
Other Word Forms
- nonbeauty noun
Etymology
Origin of beauty
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English be(a)ute, from Old French beaute; replacing Middle English bealte, from Old French beltet, from unattested Vulgar Latin bellitāt- (stem of unattested bellitās ), equivalent to Latin bell(us) “fine” + -itāt- noun suffix; -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It’s the great mystery, a great beauty, and we will never know the end of it.”
The latest move would allow the company to further sharpen its focus on higher‑growth beauty, personal care, and wellness categories.
From Barron's
Born in London in 1932, Taylor was one of the 20th Century's biggest movie stars, noted for her unique beauty and her portrayals of volatile and strong-willed characters.
From BBC
In Tokyo, the flowers reached full bloom during the weekend, entering a brief period of stunning beauty, before the petals will fall like flurries of snow.
From Barron's
An Italian authority is investigating beauty brands Benefit and Sephora after they appeared to adopt a "particularly insidious" marketing strategy of using young influencers to market skincare to children.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
