style

I. style¹ S2 W1 AC /staɪl/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑style, ↑styling, ↑stylishness, ↑stylist, ↑stylistics, ↑stylization; adjective: ↑stylish, ↑stylistic, ↑stylized; adverb: ↑stylishly, ↑stylistically; verb: ↑style]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: stilus 'pointed stick, stylus, style of writing']
1. WAY OF DOING SOMETHING [uncountable and countable] a particular way of doing, designing, or producing something, especially one that is typical of a particular place, period of time, or group of people:
an attempt to use Japanese management style in a European business
style of
different styles of handwriting
Baroque-/Swedish-/country- etc style
Cuban-style black beans and rice
a Colonial-style house
The dinner will be served buffet-style.
2. SB’S WAY OF BEHAVING [countable] the particular way that someone behaves, works, or deals with other people:
Children have different styles of learning: some learn by seeing, some by hearing, some by doing.
be more sb’s style (=used to say that you prefer something)
I don’t think the parachuting weekend is for me – the art class is more my style.
I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson.
I can’t ask a man out – it’s not my style (=it is not the way I usually behave).
3. ART/LITERATURE/MUSIC [uncountable and countable] a typical way of writing, painting etc that is used by a particular person or during a particular period of time:
The paintings are in an expressionistic style.
Hemingway’s direct style
in the style of somebody/something
a play in the style of classical Greek tragedy
4. FASHION/DESIGN
a) [countable] a particular design or fashion for something such as clothes, hair, furniture etc SYN fashion:
Car styles have changed radically in the past 20 years.
traditional/modern style
The rooms are furnished in a modern style.
b) [uncountable] the quality of being fashionable:
young women interested in style rather than comfort
in/out of style
Long skirts are back in style.
5. ATTRACTIVE QUALITY [uncountable] a confident and attractive quality that makes people admire you, and that is shown in your appearance, or the way you do things ⇨ stylish:
You may not like her, but she certainly has style.
The team played with style. ⇨ ↑stylish
6. CORRECT WRITING [uncountable] a way of using words or spelling that is considered correct:
It’s not good style to use abbreviations in an essay.
7. in style done in a way that people admire, especially because it is unusual, shows great determination, or involves spending a lot of money
in great/grand/fine etc style
Nadal won the match in fine style, not losing a single game.
⇨ cramp sb’s style at ↑cramp², ⇨ ↑lifestyle

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

style

style AW [style styles styled styling] noun, verb [staɪl] [staɪl]

noun

WAY STH IS DONE
1. countable, uncountable ~ (of sth) the particular way in which sth is done
• a style of management
• a management style
• furniture to suit your style of living
• a study of different teaching styles
• I like your style (= I like the way you do things).
• Caution was not her style (= not the way she usually behaved).
• I'm surprised he rides a motorbike— I'd have thought big cars were more his style (= what suited him).

see also lifestyle

DESIGN OF CLOTHES/HAIR

2. countable a particular design of sth, especially clothes
• We stock a wide variety of styles and sizes.
• Have you thought about having your hair in a shorter style?
• a style that was popular in the 1950s

see also hairstyle

3. uncountable the quality of being fashionable in the clothes that you wear
• style-conscious teenagers
• Short skirts are back in style (= fashionable).

• My husband has no sense of style.

BEING ELEGANT

4. uncountable the quality of being elegant and made to a high standard
• The hotel has been redecorated but it's lost a lot of its style.

• She does everything with style and grace.

OF BOOK/PAINTING/BUILDING

5. countable, uncountable the features of a book, painting, building, etc. that make it typical of a particular author, artist, historical period, etc
• a style of architecture
• a fine example of Gothic style
• a parody written in the style of Molière

• The palace was rebuilt in the same style.

USE OF LANGUAGE

6. uncountable, countable the correct use of language
• It's not considered good style to start a sentence with ‘but’.

• Please follow house style (= the rules of spelling, etc. used by a particular publishing company).

-STYLE

7. (in adjectives) having the type of style mentioned
• Italian-style gardens
• a buffet-style breakfast

see also old-style

IN A PLANT

8. (biology) the long thin part of a flower that carries the stigma
more at cramp sb's style at cramp _v.
Word Origin:
Middle English (denoting a stylus, also a literary composition, an official title, or a characteristic manner of literary expression): from Old French stile, from Latin stilus. The verb dates (first in sense 2) from the early 16th cent.
Collocations:
Clothes and fashion
Clothes
be wearing a new outfit/bright colours/fancy dress/fur/uniform
be (dressed) in black/red/jeans and a T-shirt/your best suit/leather/silk/rags (= very old torn clothes)
be dressed for work/school/dinner/a special occasion
be dressed as a man/woman/clown/pirate
wear/dress in casual/designer/second-hand clothes
wear jewellery/(especially US) jewelry/accessories/a watch/glasses/contact lenses/perfume
have a cowboy hat/red dress/blue suit on
put on/take off your clothes/coat/shoes/helmet
pull on/pull off your coat/gloves/socks
change into/get changed into a pair of jeans/your pyjamas/(especially US) your pajamas
Appearance
change/enhance/improve your appearance
create/get/have/give sth a new/contemporary/retro look
brush/comb/shampoo/wash/blow-dry your hair
have/get a haircut/your hair cut/a new hairstyle
have/get a piercing/your nose pierced
have/get a tattoo/a tattoo done (on your arm)/a tattoo removed
have/get a makeover/cosmetic surgery
use/wear/apply/put on make-up/cosmetics
Fashion
follow/keep up with (the) fashion/the latest fashions
spend/waste money on designer clothes
be fashionably/stylishly/well dressed
have good/great/terrible/awful taste in clothes
update/revamp your wardrobe
be in/come into/go out of fashion
be (back/very much) in vogue
create a style/trend/vogue for sth
organize/put on a fashion show
show/unveil a designer's spring/summer collection
sashay/strut down the catwalk/(NAmE also) runway
be on/do a photo/fashion shoot
Example Bank:
• He adapted his acting style to suit the material.
• He evolved his style of painting while working as a magazine illustrator.
• He has a certain style.
• His aggressive style of play sometimes gets him in trouble.
• I like your style! It shows real courage.
• Long velvet curtains add a touch of style to the main room.
• She was dressed in casual style.
• The 16th century house has been renovated and furnished in contemporary style.
• The article is written in a conversational style.
• The new houses have been built in a traditional style.
• The pianist had to tailor his style to suit the vocalist's distinctive voice.
• The two artists have radically different styles.
• The whole house just oozed style.
• They celebrated in style by popping open a bottle of champagne.
• Whatever she did, she did it with style.
• a casual style of speech
• a chain of bars which has developed its own house style
• a flamboyant style of dress
• a wide range of musical styles
• an autocratic style of leadership
• an old style of management
• her inimitable personal style
• her inimitable style of humour
• his innate sense of style
• to arrive/go out/travel in style
• very utilitarian in style
• Caution was not her style.
• He attempted to sing the song in the style of Elvis Presley.
• Her style differs from that of many of her contemporaries.
• I don't like his style of management.
• Short skirts are back in style.
• The city contains many different styles of architecture.
• The hotel has been redecorated but it's lost a lot of its style.
• They were told to write the passage in the style of Hemingway.
• This is a fine example of the Gothic style.
• We sell furniture to suit all styles of living.
• What's her teaching style like?
• Why not have your hair cut in a shorter style?
• hot tips for style-conscious teenagers
Idiom: in style

Derived: style yourself on somebody

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

style / staɪl / noun (WAY)

B1 [ C or U ] a way of doing something, especially one that is typical of a person, group of people, place, or period:

Jones favours a dynamic, hands-on style of management.

His office is very utilitarian in style, with no decoration.

be your style informal to be the type of thing that you would do:

He wouldn't try to mislead you - it's not his style.

style / staɪl / noun [ C or U ] (FASHION)

B1 fashion, especially in clothing:

a style consultant

I read the fashion pages in the newspapers to keep up with the latest styles.

The classic black dress is always in style.

style / staɪl / noun [ C ] (DESIGN)

B1 a particular shape or design, especially of a person's hair, clothes, or a piece of furniture:

a formal style of hat

Her hair was cut in a really nice style.

→ See also hairstyle

style / staɪl / noun [ U ] approving (HIGH QUALITY)

B2 high quality in appearance, design, or behaviour:

That car' s got real style, which is no surprise considering how much it cost.

When she decides to do something, she always does it in/with great style.

style / staɪl / noun [ C ] specialized (FLOWER PART)

the middle part of the carpel (= female part) of a flower, connecting the ovary to the stigma

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

style

[sta͟ɪl]
♦♦
styles, styling, styled
1) N-COUNT: with supp, also in adj N The style of something is the general way in which it is done or presented, which often shows the attitudes of the people involved.
  Our children's different needs and learning styles created many problems...
  Belmont Park is a broad sweeping track which will suit the European style of running...
  Sam celebrated in fine style.
2) N-UNCOUNT: oft in N If people or places have style, they are smart and elegant.
  Bournemouth, you have to admit, has style...
  Both love doing things in style...
  She had not lost her grace and style.
3) N-VAR The style of a product is its design.
  His 50 years of experience have given him strong convictions about style...
  Several styles of hat were available.
4) N-COUNT: usu with supp In the arts, a particular style is characteristic of a particular period or group of people.
  ...six scenes in the style of a classical Greek tragedy.
  ...a mixture of musical styles.
  ...the revival of the gothic style.
5) VERB: usu passive If something such as a piece of clothing, a vehicle, or someone's hair is styled in a particular way, it is designed or shaped in that way.
  [be V-ed] His thick blond hair had just been styled before his trip.
  [V-ed] ...classically styled clothes.
6) → See also old-style, self-styled, styling
7) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that something is not someone 's style, you mean that it is not the way in which they usually do things, or it is different from the sort of thing they usually like.
to cramp someone's style → see cramp
  Mr Blair was not off guard. That is not his style...
  To be honest, the house is not quite our style.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹style /ˈstajəl/ noun, pl styles
1 : a particular way in which something is done, created, or performed

[count]

• I don't like the flowery style of his writing.
• She has a unique style of singing.
• a baseball pitcher with an unusual style

[noncount]

• She writes with more attention to style than to content.
• The room was decorated in modern style.
2 [count] : a particular form or design of something
• The car is available in several different styles.
• a new dress style
• the Greek style of architecture
• The range of clothing styles has become more varied.
• Victorian-style drapes
3 [count] : a way of behaving or of doing things
• His management style is abrasive.
• Openly criticizing a fellow worker is just not my style. [=I would never openly criticize a fellow worker]
• You're a good negotiator. I like your style. [=I like the way you do things]
4 [noncount] : a particular way of living
• He has been living in high style. [=he has been living the way rich people live]
- see also lifestyle
5 [noncount] : the quality that makes things attractive, fashionable, etc.
• He has a real sense of style.
• She's a woman of style. [=she's a stylish woman]
6 [noncount] : an easy and graceful manner
• It was an awkward moment but she handled it with style.
7 [count] : the way that written words are spelled, capitalized, etc.
• Each newspaper had its own style.
• a style guide
cramp your style
- see ²cramp
in style
1 : popular or fashionable
• clothes that are always in style [=in fashion]
2 : in a way that is impressive or admired because it shows talent, good taste, etc. : in a stylish way
• When she travels she likes to do it in style.
• He finished the tournament in style by winning his last match very quickly and easily.
out of style : not popular or fashionable : not stylish
• a fad that has fallen/gone out of style