bijou
Americannoun
plural
bijoux-
a jewel.
-
something small, delicate, and exquisitely wrought.
noun
-
something small and delicately worked, such as a trinket
-
ironic (modifier) small but elegant and tasteful
a bijou residence
Etymology
Origin of bijou
1660–70; < French < Breton bizou (jeweled) ring, derivative of biz finger; cognate with Cornish bisou finger-ring, derivative of bis finger
Explanation
A bijou is a small, intricately crafted item, often used to describe elegant jewelry. It can also refer to a charming, cozy place, like a beautifully decorated apartment. Bijou is a versatile word that comes from French, meaning "jewel." As a noun, it often refers to a small, elegant piece of jewelry, like a lovely brooch or a finely crafted ring. As an adjective, bijou describes something that is charmingly small or exquisitely made. Imagine a cozy café filled with delightful decorations or a beautifully designed piece of art — both can be called bijou.
Vocabulary lists containing bijou
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This year's search showcased a variety of home styles including quirky conversions, grand designs, period renovations and bijou pads.
From BBC • Jun. 25, 2023
“Watermark is also a must,” says Maul of the bijou bookstore.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2022
After his friends go home, he makes for his bedroom, a bijou space to the rear of the apartment that’s appointed with a simple antique Iranian table and a Flos Parentesi lamp.
From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2022
The bedrooms are bijou, with a clean, functional feel: bare brick painted brilliant white, wiring hidden in aluminium tubes, TV, coffee and tea things on a small chest of drawers.
From The Guardian • Oct. 25, 2019
There were sale bills out before long at Lady Littletown’s bijou residence at Hampton, and also at Lady Anna Maria Morton’s house in Bryanston Square.
From A Double Knot by Fenn, George Manville
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
