Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Fearless and daring; showing a willingness to take risks: "bold" describes a person or action that is confident, courageous, and not afraid of danger or difficulty.
   • Strong and clear; very noticeable to the eye: "bold" can describe something, like a color, shape, or line, that is vivid, prominent, and stands out distinctly.
   • Steep or abrupt: In geography, "bold" describes a cliff, coast, or slope that is very steep, sheer, or almost vertical.

2. Noun:

   • A typeface with thick, heavy lines: In typography and printing, "bold" refers to a thick, dark style of letters used for emphasis.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Fearless):
  • She made a bold decision to start her own company.
  • The bold explorer ventured into the unknown jungle.
• Adjective (Visually Prominent):
  • Please print the heading in bold letters.
  • The artist used bold colors in her painting.
• Adjective (Steep):
  • The ship sailed past the bold cliffs of the coastline.
• Noun (Typography):
  • For emphasis, change that word from regular text to bold.

Advanced Usage

• To make bold (to do something): To venture or dare to do something, often with a sense of presumption.
  • I make bold to suggest a different approach to the problem.
• To put a bold face on something: To act or speak as if a difficult or embarrassing situation is not serious; to deal with something confidently.
  • Despite the setback, he put a bold face on the situation and continued the presentation.

Variants and Related Words

• Boldly (adverb): In a bold manner.
  • He boldly stated his opinion.
• Boldness (noun): The quality of being bold.
  • Her boldness in the negotiation was impressive.
• Embolden (verb): To give someone the courage or confidence to do something.
  • The early success emboldened the team to aim higher.

Synonyms

• Adjective (Fearless): Courageous, daring, audacious, brave, intrepid.
• Adjective (Prominent): Conspicuous, striking, pronounced, vivid.
• Adjective (Steep): Sheer, precipitous, abrupt, bluff.

Antonyms

• Adjective (Fearless): Timid, cowardly, cautious, fearful.
• Adjective (Prominent): Faint, subtle, indistinct.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• (As) bold as brass: Behaving with too much confidence in a way that is rude or shocking; brazenly.
  • He walked in late and, bold as brass, took the last piece of cake.

Adjective

1. very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
   • a bluff headland
   • where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise
   • a sheer descent of rock
2. clear and distinct
   • bold handwriting
   • a figure carved in bold relief
   • a bold design
3. fearless and daring
   • bold settlers on some foreign shore
   • a bold speech
   • a bold adventure

Noun

1. a typeface with thick heavy lines