beauty

[ byoo-tee ]

noun

, plural beau·ties.

1. 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

2. a beautiful person, especially a woman.

   Synonyms: belle

3. 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.

4. a beautiful thing, as a work of art or a building.
5. Often beauties. a beautiful feature or trait in nature or in some natural or artificial environment:

   the rugged beauties of our seashore and mountains.

6. an individually pleasing or beautiful quality; grace; charm:

   a vivid blue area that is the one real beauty of the painting.

7. Informal. a particular advantage:

   One of the beauties of this medicine is the freedom from aftereffects.

8. (often used ironically) someone or something that is extraordinary, remarkable, or amazing; a beaut:

   That sunburn is a real beauty!

9. something excellent of its kind:

   My old car, now she was a beauty.

adjective

1. relating to or being something intended to enhance a person’s physical attractiveness: Make time for yourself and book a relaxing beauty treatment in our first-class spa.

   They have a wonderful handcrafted line of natural beauty products, including soaps, lip balm, scented oils, and moisturizer.

   Make time for yourself and book a relaxing beauty treatment in our first-class spa.

beauty

/ ˈbjuːtɪ /

noun

1. the combination of all the qualities of a person or thing that delight the senses and please the mind
2. a very attractive and well-formed girl or woman
3. informal.
   an outstanding example of its kind

   the horse is a beauty

4. informal.
   an advantageous feature

   one beauty of the job is the short hours

5. informal.
   a light-hearted and affectionate term of address

   hello, my old beauty!

interjection

1. ˈbjuːdɪ an expression of approval or agreement Also (Scot, Austral, and NZ)you beauty

Other Words From

• non·beau·ty noun plural nonbeauties

Word History and Origins

Origin of beauty¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of beauty¹

C13: from Old French biauté , from biau beautiful; see beau

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with beauty , also see that's the beauty of .

Example Sentences

In our household, beauty wore different names.

From Los Angeles Times

This was back in 1995, when we lived on 58th Place, in the upstairs unit of an ash-white triplex in Ladera Heights, many miles south of the glamour and stock beauty of Hollywood Boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times

The beauty in our home didn’t announce itself like it did in the movies I worshiped during countless weekend family trips to the Marina del Rey theater.

From Los Angeles Times

In our household, beauty just was.

From Los Angeles Times

Lately, I’ve been trying to find my way back to beauty.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allure
• charm
• delicacy
• elegance
• good looks
• grace
• refinement
• style