The A-Z of Beauty

beauty

ˈbjuːti/

noun

1. 1. 

   a combination of qualities, such as shape, colour, or form that pleases the aesthetic senses

   
   

   
   

   1. 
      

      "I was struck by her beauty"

      • a combination of qualities that pleases the intellect.

        
        

        "the artistry and beauty of football"

        synonyms:

        attractiveness, prettiness, good looks, pleasingness, comeliness, allure, allurement; More loveliness, charm, appeal, heavenliness, voluptuousness; winsomeness, grace, elegance, exquisiteness; splendour, magnificence, grandeur, impressiveness, picturesqueness, artistry, decorativeness; gorgeousness, glamour, irresistibility; bonniness; formalbeauteousness, pulchritude "a young woman of great beauty"

        antonyms:

        ugliness

      • denoting something intended to make someone more attractive.

        modifier noun: beauty

        
        

        "beauty treatment"
   2. 2. 

      a beautiful woman.

      
      

      "she was considered a great beauty in her youth"

      synonyms:

      beautiful woman, belle, vision, charmer, enchantress, Venus, goddess, beauty queen, English rose, picture, seductress; More femme fatale; informallooker, good looker, lovely, stunner, knockout, bombshell, dish, cracker, smasher, peach, eyeful, bit of all right "Esther was no beauty" antonyms: ugly woman, hag

      • an excellent example of something.

        
        

        "the fish was a beauty, around 14 pounds"
      • the pleasing or attractive features of (something).
        
        

        "the beauties of the English countryside"
      • the best aspect or advantage of something.

        
        

        "the beauty of keeping cats is that they don't tie you down"

        synonyms:

        advantage, attraction, strength, benefit, asset, draw, lure, pull, strong point, boon, blessing, virtue, merit, selling point, good thing/point, bonus, plus, added extra "the beauty of the system is that the information can be called up instantaneously"

        antonyms:

        drawback

   adjective
   

   AUSTRALIAN/NZinformal

   adjective: beauty

   1. 1. 

      good; excellent (used as a general term of approval).

   Origin

   

   Middle English: from Old French beaute, based on Latin bellus ‘beautiful, fine’.
   
   Source i D Magazine