gaudy

gaudy
I. adjective (gaudier; -est) Date: 1582 1. ostentatiously or tastelessly ornamented 2. marked by extravagance or sometimes tasteless showiness ; outlandish <
gaudy lies
>
<
gaudy claims
>
; also exceptional <
a gaudy batting average
>
gaudily adverbgaudiness noun Synonyms: gaudy, tawdry, garish, flashy, meretricious mean vulgarly or cheaply showy. gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation <
circus performers in gaudy costumes
>
. tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy <
tawdry saloons
>
. garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright <
garish neon signs
>
. flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar <
a flashy nightclub act
>
. meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise <
a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars
>
. II. noun (plural gaudies) Etymology: probably from Latin gaudium joy — more at joy Date: 1651 a feast or entertainment especially in the form of an annual college dinner at a British university

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Gaudy — ist: Jezioro Gaudy, ein See in Polen Gaudy ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Adolf Gaudy (1872–1956), Schweizer Kirchenarchitekt Alice von Gaudy (1863–1929), deutsche Dichterin Franz von Gaudy (1800–1840), deutscher Dichter und Novellist… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • gaudy — gaudy, tawdry, garish, flashy, meretricious are comparable when meaning vulgar or cheap in its showiness. Something is gaudy which uses gay colors and conspicuous ornaments or ornamentation lavishly, ostentatiously, and tastelessly {gaudy floral… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Gaudy — or Gaudie [ [http://www.ausa.org.uk/student media/gaudie Aberdeen University Students Association GAUDIE ] ] (from the Latin, gaudium , meaning enjoyment or merry making ) is a term used typical to reflect student life in a number of the ancient… …   Wikipedia

  • Gaudy — Gaud y, a. [Compar. {Gaudier}; superl. {Gauidiest}.] 1. Ostentatiously fine; showy; gay, but tawdry or meretricious. [1913 Webster] Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Gay;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gaudy — (adj.) showy, tastelessly rich, 1580s, probably ultimately from M.E. gaudi large, ornamental bead in a rosary (early 14c.); but there is a parallel sense of gaudy as full of trickery (1520s), from M.E. gaud deception, trick, from gaudi a jest,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Gaudy — Gaud y, n. A feast or festival; called also {gaud day} and {gaudy day}. [Oxford Univ.] Conybeare. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gaudy — Gaudy, Franz Bernhard Heinrich Wilhelm, Freiherr von, Dichter und Novellist, geb. 19. April 1800 in Frankfurt a. O. als Sprößling einer aus Schottland stammenden Familie, gest. 6. Febr. 1840 in Berlin, erhielt seine Bildung im College français zu …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Gaudy —   [ di], Franz Freiherr von, Schriftsteller, * Frankfurt (Oder) 19. 4. 1800, ✝ Berlin 5. 2. 1840; stammte väterlicherseits aus einer schottischen Familie, war 1818 33 Offizier und lebte dann als freier Schriftsteller, mit A. von Chamisso und W.… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • gaudy — gaudy; gaudy·ware; …   English syllables

  • Gaudy — Gaud y, n.; pl. {Gaudies} [See {Gaud}, n.] One of the large beads in the rosary at which the paternoster is recited. [Obs.] Gower. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gaudy — Gaudy, 1) Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst v. G., geb. den 23. Aug. 1725 in Spandau, trat, nachdem er seine Studien auf der Universität Königsberg beendet hatte, 1744 als Cadet der Garde in die preußische Armee. 1757 war er als Hauptmann u. Flügeladjutant …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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