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

There’s a clear trend away from gendered anything these days—clothes, beauty products, pronouns.

From Fortune

On the surface, this seems reasonable — swapping out Black pain for Black beauty.

From Vox

A disappointment became an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of a place we could access through general aviation.

From Popular-Science

This modestly upscale dermaplaning wand is designed for people who want the quality of a salon device but are seeking beauty upgrades on a budget.

From Popular-Science

That’s the beauty of why we’ve presented it the way we have.

From The Smithsonian Insider

If you read the reactions, she was billed as ‘Beauty and Brains.’

From The Daily Beast

Her Miss America win transcended mere superficial beauty standards.

From The Daily Beast

Also, she was tall and thin, too, further adding to the ways she met the physical beauty conventions.

From The Daily Beast

There was so much beauty, talent, potential, and most importantly, honesty in your work.

From The Daily Beast

There was something beautiful about this, and I still see that beauty.

From The Daily Beast

A flash of surprise and pleasure lit the fine eyes of the haughty beauty perched up there on the palace wall.

From Project Gutenberg

Let the thought of self pass in, and the beauty of great action is gone, like the bloom from a soiled flower.

From Project Gutenberg

The beauty, the mystery,—this fierce sunshine or something—stir——' She hesitated for a fraction of a second.

From Project Gutenberg

Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green sown fields.

From Project Gutenberg

Sir Cadge was about the same age as the famous beauty, and rose quite two inches above her lofty head.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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