Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit: This is the primary meaning, referring to the abstract concept of aesthetic appeal.
   • A particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality: This sense highlights a specific, admirable feature.
   • A beautiful person, especially a woman; often used as a term of address: Refers to a person who possesses great physical attractiveness.
   • Something or someone that is beautiful or particularly fine of its kind: A concrete example of the quality of beauty.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Abstract Quality):
  • They admired the beauty of the sunset. (They admired the aesthetically pleasing qualities of the sunset.)
  • The beauty of her voice moved the audience. (The pleasing quality of her voice moved the audience.)
• Noun (Excellent Example):
  • That old car is a real beauty. (That old car is an outstanding example of its kind.)
  • His latest goal was an absolute beauty. (His latest goal was a particularly fine one.)
• Noun (Beautiful Person):
  • She was a great beauty in her youth. (She was a very beautiful woman in her youth.)

Advanced Usage

• "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder": A proverb meaning that the perception of beauty is subjective and varies from person to person.
  • I don't see the appeal of that painting, but I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
• "Beauty is only skin deep": An idiom meaning that physical beauty is superficial and does not reflect a person's inner character.
  • He's charming but unkind, proving that beauty is only skin deep.

Variants and Related Words

• Beautiful (adj): Possessing qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to the senses.
  • She has a beautiful smile.
• Beautify (verb): To make beautiful; to adorn.
  • They planted flowers to beautify the park.
• Beautician (noun): A person whose job is to give beauty treatments, typically to the face and body.

Synonyms

• Attractiveness: The quality of being pleasing or appealing to look at.
• Loveliness: A poetic synonym for great beauty.
• Pulchritude (formal/literary): Physical beauty.
• Elegance: Beauty that shows refined grace and propriety.

Related Phrases

• Beauty contest/beauty pageant: A competition in which participants are judged on their physical attractiveness.
  • She won the local beauty pageant.
• Beauty mark/beauty spot: A small, dark mole on the skin, considered an attractive feature.
  • She had a distinctive beauty mark on her cheek.
• Beauty sleep (humorous): Sleep considered necessary for looking one's best.
  • I need my beauty sleep before the big day tomorrow.

Noun

1. an outstanding example of its kind
   • his roses were beauties
   • when I make a mistake it's a beaut
2. a very attractive or seductive looking woman
3. the qualities that give pleasure to the senses