naked

[ ney-kid ]

adjective

1. being without clothing or covering; nude:

   naked children swimming in the lake.

   Synonyms: undressed, uncovered

2. without adequate clothing:

   a naked little beggar.

3. bare of any covering, overlying matter, vegetation, foliage, or the like:

   naked fields.

4. bare, stripped, or destitute (usually followed by of ):

   The trees were suddenly naked of leaves.

   Synonyms: denuded

5. without the customary covering, container, or protection:

   a naked sword;

   a naked flame.

   Synonyms: exposed

6. without carpets, hangings, or furnishings, as rooms or walls.
7. (of the eye, sight, etc.) unassisted by a microscope, telescope, or other instrument:

   visible to the naked eye.

8. defenseless; unprotected; exposed:

   naked to invaders.

   Synonyms: open, unarmed

9. plain; simple; unadorned:

   the naked realities of the matter.

10. not accompanied or supplemented by anything else:

    a naked outline of the facts.

11. exposed to view or plainly revealed:

    the naked threat in the letter;

    a naked vein of coal.

    Synonyms: patent, obvious, manifest, evident, blatant

12. plain-spoken; blunt:

    the naked truth.

    Synonyms: unvarnished, stark, simple

13. Law. unsupported, as by authority or consideration:

    a naked promise.

14. Botany.
    1. (of seeds) not enclosed in an ovary.
    2. (of flowers) without a calyx or perianth.
    3. (of stalks, branches, etc.) without leaves.
    4. (of stalks, leaves, etc.) without hairs or pubescence.
15. Zoology. having no covering of hair, feathers, shell, etc.

naked

/ ˈneɪkɪd /

adjective

1. See bare
   having the body completely unclothed; undressed Compare bare 1
2. having no covering; bare; exposed

   a naked flame

3. with no qualification or concealment; stark; plain

   the naked facts

4. unaided by any optical instrument, such as a telescope or microscope (esp in the phrase the naked eye )
5. with no defence, protection, or shield
6. usually foll by of stripped or destitute

   naked of weapons

7. (of the seeds of gymnosperms) not enclosed in a pericarp
8. (of flowers) lacking a perianth
9. (of stems) lacking leaves and other appendages
10. (of animals) lacking hair, feathers, scales, etc
11. law
    1. unsupported by authority or financial or other consideration

       a naked contract

    2. lacking some essential condition to render valid; incomplete

Derived Forms

• ˈnakedness, noun
• ˈnakedly, adverb

Other Words From

• naked·ly adverb
• naked·ness noun
• half-naked adjective
• semi·naked adjective
• un·naked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of naked¹

before 900; Middle English naked ( e ), Old English nacod; cognate with Dutch naakt, German nackt, Gothic naqths; akin to Old Norse nakinn, Latin nūdus, Greek gymnós, Sanskrit nagnás

Word History and Origins

Origin of naked¹

Old English nacod; related to Old High German nackot (German nackt ), Old Norse noktr, Latin nudus

Example Sentences

This feature tricks the smartphone into thinking you’re using your naked fingers.

From Popular-Science

Dialects probably play a role in maintaining the “exquisite cooperation” of naked mole-rat societies, Barker says.

From Science News

That allows you to see tiny details beyond what your naked eye can resolve.

From Popular-Science

Its track has been widened, pushing the wheels further apart from each other—hence the naked carbon fiber-reinforced plastic wing arch extensions with vents that you could lose a finger inside.

From Ars Technica

One star, Pleione, is now so close to the star Atlas they look like a single star to the naked eye.

From Singularity Hub 

One measly year later, Pam woke to find a naked Ewing grinning at her in the shower.

From The Daily Beast

“You can cut my hair, you can bald me, you can strip me naked and take away my dignity,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

One prisoner, who was left naked and shackled to a cold floor, died of suspected hypothermia.

From The Daily Beast

In other instances, naked detainees were hooded and dragged up and down corridors while subject to physical abuse.

From The Daily Beast

Some detainees were forced to walk around naked, or shackled with their hands above their heads.

From The Daily Beast

The Smooth Naked Horsetail is a common plant, specially by the sides of streams and pools.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not possible to deceive himself an instant longer, for the naked truth lay staring into his eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a large square apartment, very lofty and very naked-looking.

From Project Gutenberg

Remnants of food from previous meals can be detected with the naked eye or microscopically.

From Project Gutenberg

Water and soapsuds blotched the broken floor, amongst which played two little boys, absolutely naked.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bare
• defenseless
• exposed
• helpless
• nude