beauty

Share this

beauty [noun] (BEING BEAUTIFUL)

the quality of being pleasing, especially to look at, or someone or something that gives great pleasure, especially when you look at it

US /ˈbjuː.t̬i/ 
UK /ˈbjuː.ti/ 
Example: 

This is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

beauty

 noun (no plural)
the quality of being beautiful:
She was a woman of great beauty.
the beauty of the mountains

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

beauty

beauty S3 W2 /ˈbjuːti/ BrE AmE noun (plural beauties)
[Word Family: noun: ↑beautician, ↑beauty; adverb: ↑beautifully; adjective: ↑beautiful]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: biauté, from bel, biau 'beautiful', from Latin bellus 'pretty']
1. APPEARANCE [uncountable] a quality that people, places, or things have that makes them very attractive to look at:
her beauty and grace
an area of outstanding natural beauty
Millions of dollars are spent each year on beauty products.
2. WOMAN [countable] a woman who is very beautiful:
She was considered a great beauty in her youth.
3. POEM/MUSIC/EMOTION ETC [uncountable] a quality that something such as a poem, song, emotion etc has that gives you pleasure or joy
beauty of
the beauty of Shakespeare’s verse
4. ADVANTAGE the beauty of something a particularly good quality that makes something especially suitable or useful:
The beauty of e-mail is its speed and ease of use.
5. [countable] spoken a very good, large etc example of something:
You should have seen the boat – a real beauty.
6. beauty is in the eye of the beholder used to say that different people have different opinions about what is beautiful
7. beauty is only skin-deep used to say that how someone looks is not as important as a good character
• • •
THESAURUS
beauty the quality of being very attractive to look at - used about people, objects, and places: She was greatly admired for her beauty and intelligence. | the natural beauty of the landscape. | The Ancient Greeks created statues of outstanding beauty and dignity.
sb’s good looks someone’s attractive appearance, especially their face and features: With his dark good looks, Jason could have been a film star.
glamour an exciting quality which makes someone or something seem attractive and connected with wealth and success: Men loved her for her beauty and her glamour. | Add a black lace top for a touch of glamour.
aesthetic adjective connected with beauty and the study of beauty: The aesthetic value of their work is easy to appreciate. | the declining aesthetic standards of our civiliization | The aesthetic qualities in a Buddhist sculpture are similar to those in any other work of art.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

beauty

beauty [beauty beauties]   [ˈbjuːti]    [ˈbjuːti]  noun (pl. beauties)
1. uncountable the quality of being pleasing to the senses or to the mind
the beauty of the sunset/of poetry/of his singing
a woman of great beauty
The woods were designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.
beauty products/treatment (= intended to make a person more beautiful)

The sheer beauty of the scenery took my breath away.

2. countable a person or thing that is beautiful

She had been a beauty in her day.

3. countable an excellent example of its type

That last goal was a beauty!

4. countable a pleasing feature
Syn:  advantage
One of the beauties of living here is that it's so peaceful.
The project will require very little work to start up; that's the beauty of it.
Idioms: beauty is in the eye of the beholder  beauty is only skin-deep  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French beaute, based on Latin bellus ‘beautiful, fine’.  
Example Bank:
He met a blonde beauty named Cindy.
Her art challenges conventions of feminine beauty.
Her beauty faded as she got older.
Isn't she a little beauty?
My new car's a real beauty!
She was a contestant in the Miss World beauty pageant.
She was known as a great beauty in her time.
She was still a radiant beauty.
She works in a beauty salon.
The beauty of the city amazed her.
The film argues that inner beauty, not physical appearance, is most important.
The film-maker magnificently captures the beauty of the changing seasons.
There is a stark beauty to the desert terrain.
They took a walk, enjoying the beauty of the landscape.
They were captivated by the ethereal beauty of the music.
an area of breathtaking beauty
an exotic beauty with raven hair
the classical beauty of her face
the timeless beauty of this ancient landscape
She was a woman of great beauty.
The woods were designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.
We all admired the beauty of the sunset.

We stock a wide range of beauty products.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

beauty / ˈbjuː.ti /   / -t̬i / noun (BEING BEAUTIFUL)

B1 [ C or U ] the quality of being pleasing, especially to look at, or someone or something that gives great pleasure, especially when you look at it:

This is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The piece of music he played had a haunting beauty.

beauty products/treatments

She was a great beauty (= a beautiful woman) when she was young.

Word partners for beauty

natural / physical beauty • great / outstanding / sheer / stunning beauty • beauty products / treatments • beauty secrets / tips • a thing of beauty • the beauty of sth

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

beauty

[bju͟ːti]
 ♦♦♦
 beauties

 1) N-UNCOUNT Beauty is the state or quality of being beautiful.
  ...an area of outstanding natural beauty...
  Everyone admired her elegance and her beauty.
 2) N-COUNT A beauty is a beautiful woman. [JOURNALISM]
  She is known as a great beauty.
  Syn:
  belle
 3) N-COUNT You can say that something is a beauty when you think it is very good. [INFORMAL]
  It was the one opportunity in the game - the pass was a real beauty, but the shot was poor.
  Syn:
  peach
 4) N-COUNT: usu pl, with supp The beauties of something are its attractive qualities or features. [LITERARY]
  He was beginning to enjoy the beauties of nature.
  Syn:
  glories
 5) ADJ: ADJ n Beauty is used to describe people, products, and activities that are concerned with making women look beautiful.
  Additional beauty treatments can be booked in advance.
 6) N-COUNT: usu the N of n If you say that a particular feature is the beauty of something, you mean that this feature is what makes the thing so good.
  There would be no effect on animals - that's the beauty of such water-based materials.
  Syn:
  boon

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

beauty

beau·ty /ˈbjuːti/ noun, pl -ties
1 [noncount] : the quality of being physically attractive
• Her beauty is beyond compare. [=she is very beautiful; no one is as beautiful as she is]
- sometimes used before another noun
beauty products [=soaps, makeup, and other things that help make people more physically attractive]
• a beauty treatment
2 : the qualities in a person or a thing that give pleasure to the senses or the mind

[noncount]

• the beauty [=loveliness] of the stars
• We explored the natural beauty of the island.
• I'm learning to appreciate the beauty of poetry.
• We have different ideas/notions/conceptions of beauty. [=different opinions about what makes things beautiful]
• “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever…” John Keats, Endymion (1818) -

[plural]

• We explored the natural beauties of the island.
3 [count] : a beautiful woman
• She was one of the great beauties of her time.
• She was no beauty.
4 [count] informal : a very good thing : a very good example of something
• That was a beauty of a fight. [=that was an excellent fight]
• Dad and I went fishing and we caught a couple of beauties.
- often used in an ironic way to describe a bad thing or person
• That mistake was a beauty.
5 : a good or appealing part of something

[noncount]

• The beauty of the game is that everyone can play.
• No one knows when it's going to happen, and that's the beauty of it!

[count]

• One of the beauties of the system is that it allows you to adjust the schedule easily.