bijou
Americannoun
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a jewel.
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something small, delicate, and exquisitely wrought.
noun
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something small and delicately worked, such as a trinket
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ironic (modifier) small but elegant and tasteful
a bijou residence
Etymology
Origin of bijou
1660–70; < French < Breton bizou (jeweled) ring, derivative of biz finger; cognate with Cornish bisou finger-ring, derivative of bis finger
Explanation
A bijou is a small, intricately crafted item, often used to describe elegant jewelry. It can also refer to a charming, cozy place, like a beautifully decorated apartment. Bijou is a versatile word that comes from French, meaning "jewel." As a noun, it often refers to a small, elegant piece of jewelry, like a lovely brooch or a finely crafted ring. As an adjective, bijou describes something that is charmingly small or exquisitely made. Imagine a cozy café filled with delightful decorations or a beautifully designed piece of art — both can be called bijou.
Vocabulary lists containing bijou
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.
“Watermark is also a must,” says Maul of the bijou bookstore.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2022
The bijou dwelling is an example of what campaigners say is a growing phenomenon of micro-homes, driven by high rent and property prices.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2022
Digital nomads are drawn to this sea-facing cafe-hostel near Dickwella on the south coast for its bijou rooms that are open to the outdoors.
From The Guardian • Sep. 12, 2018
And yet, there’s something undeniably and delightfully bijou about seeing a tot outfitted in Seventh Avenue finery.
From Slate • Sep. 4, 2018
There were sale bills out before long at Lady Littletown’s bijou residence at Hampton, and also at Lady Anna Maria Morton’s house in Bryanston Square.
From A Double Knot by Fenn, George Manville
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.
