Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small and delicately worked piece: A bijou is a small, finely crafted object, often a piece of jewelry, valued for its intricate detail and beauty.
   • Something small and elegant: The term can also describe any small, elegant, and tasteful thing, such as a house or room.

2. Adjective:

   • Small and elegant: Used to describe something that is small, charming, and exquisitely neat or tasteful.

Examples

• Noun:

  • She wore a diamond bijou on a delicate chain. (She wore a small, finely crafted diamond piece on a delicate chain.)
  • The artist's studio was a bijou filled with miniature sculptures. (The artist's studio was a small space filled with miniature sculptures.)

• Adjective:

  • They live in a bijou apartment in the city center. (They live in a small and elegant apartment in the city center.)
  • The hotel offered bijou rooms with beautiful views. (The hotel offered small, charming rooms with beautiful views.)

Advanced Usage

• "A bijou of a...": Used to emphasize that something is a perfect, charming example of its kind, despite its small size.
  • It's a bijou of a theatre, seating only fifty people. (It's a charmingly small theatre, seating only fifty people.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bijouterie (n): A collective term for jewelry or trinkets, especially when considered as a category of decorative art.
  • The exhibition featured fine bijouterie from the 18th century. (The exhibition featured fine jewelry from the 18th century.)

Synonyms

• Trinket: A small ornament or item of jewelry that is of little value.
• Bauble: A small, showy trinket or decoration.
• Gem: A precious or semi-precious stone, especially when cut and polished; can also metaphorically mean something highly prized.

Related Phrases

• Bijou residence: A term often used in real estate to describe a small, stylish home or apartment.
  • The listing advertised a bijou residence perfect for a single professional. (The listing advertised a small, stylish home perfect for a single professional.)

Related Idioms

• (To be) a bijou: Used to describe a place or thing that is small but perfectly formed and delightful.
  • The cottage isn't large, but it's a real bijou. (The cottage isn't large, but it's a real charming small place.)

Noun

1. a small and delicately worked piece