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. 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

"He promoted nakedness and encouraged the boys to walk around naked at the summer camp," a former student who attended a camp at Ruzawi in 1991 told the BBC.

From BBC

He would also shower naked with them in the communal showers and the boys were ordered not to wear underpants in bed.

From BBC

The sister of a 16-year-old boy who drowned while swimming naked at a Christian holiday camp in Zimbabwe run by child abuser John Smyth blames the Church of England for his death.

From BBC

He also admitted to Coltart that he took photographs of naked boys, but said they were "from shoulders up" for publicity purposes.

From BBC

Another senior party figure described Flynn's move as "naked ambition".

From BBC

Related Words

• bare
• defenseless
• exposed
• helpless
• nude