beau

[ boh ]

noun

, plural beaus [bohz], beaux [bohz, boh].

1. a male lover or sweetheart.
2. a frequent and attentive male escort for a girl or woman.
3. a dandy; fop.

   Synonyms: coxcomb, dude, blade, swell, peacock

verb (used with object)

1. to escort (a girl or woman), as to a social gathering.

beau

/ bəʊ /

noun

1. a lover, sweetheart, or escort of a girl or woman
2. a man who is greatly concerned with his clothes and appearance; dandy

Other Words From

• beauish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beau¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from French, from Latin bellus “beautiful”

Word History and Origins

Origin of beau¹

C17: from French, from Old French biau , from Latin bellus handsome, charming

Example Sentences

As she juggles two jobs, moving in with her beau, and the continued draw of alcohol, Cassie seems to be spiraling out of control all over again.

From The Daily Beast

That proved to be true for star chef, Cutthroat Kitchen champion and Just Savor founder Chef Huda, and her beau, IT exec and former winery owner Lamar.

From Essence.com

She’s been married twice and, in her own words, has had “lots of beaus.”

From Ozy

Whatever the reason, Burton was committed enough to leave tiny Bunker Hill to seek out her beau.

From The Daily Beast

But that just made Summer more enticing, an unobtainable Beau Ideal.

From The Daily Beast

Kudos to the voters for nominating Allison Janney and Beau Bridges for the blistering guest turns, too.

From The Daily Beast

People know Kurt Sutter and Vince Gilligan and Beau Willimon from House of Cards.

From The Daily Beast

Beau Kilmer, co-director of the drug policy research center at RAND Corporation, calls the decision “extremely frustrating.”

From The Daily Beast

Celuy-cy avoit souvent esvad le danger d'estre noy, et tout fraischement le beau jour de la Pentecoste dernire.

From Project Gutenberg

At least this is as far as my observation of him goes on the few occasions I have seen him in the beau monde.

From Project Gutenberg

A coquette is said to be an imperfect incarnation of Cupid, as she keeps her beau, and not her arrows, in a quiver.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he started, and suffered five suffocating minutes in the public sitting-room of the Beau Soleil.

From Project Gutenberg

A beau highwayman and a miserable chimney sweeper were to be hanged together at Newgate for their respective deserts.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boyfriend
• lover
• paramour
• suitor
• sweetheart