Definition

Adjective: 1. (Of a woman's body) healthily plump and vigorous; full-figured and robust. This sense emphasizes a strong, healthy, and attractively rounded physique. 2. (Of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves; shapely and voluptuous. This sense emphasizes an attractive, full, and curvaceous figure, particularly in the bust and hips.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The painter was known for his portraits of buxom women, celebrating their healthy, robust forms.
  • In many classic novels, the innkeeper's wife is described as a cheerful, buxom woman.
  • The fashion of the era favored a buxom silhouette over a very slender one.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Descriptive Context: The word often carries a somewhat old-fashioned or literary tone. It is used descriptively, typically in the context of art, literature, or historical description, rather than in casual modern conversation.
  • The character was portrayed as a buxom tavern wench, full of life and laughter.

Variants and Related Words

• Buxomness (noun): The quality or state of being buxom.
  • The statue was admired for its depiction of classical buxomness.

Synonyms

• Voluptuous: Suggesting fullness of figure and sensual pleasure.
• Curvaceous: Having an attractively curved shape, especially referring to the female body.
• Rubenesque: Plump and voluptuous in a way reminiscent of the women painted by Peter Paul Rubens.
• Full-figured: Having a full, rounded body shape.
• Shapely: Having an attractive shape, with well-defined curves.

Antonyms

• Slender
• Svelte
• Gaunt
• Angular

Notes on Usage

• Appropriateness: While "buxom" is a descriptive term, it specifically describes a woman's body. It should be used with consideration for context and tone, as it can be perceived as dated or overly focused on physical appearance. It is generally more appropriate in descriptive writing (e.g., historical fiction, art criticism) than in everyday speech.

Adjective

1. (of a female body) healthily plump and vigorous;
   • a generation ago...buxom actresses were popular- Robt.A.Hamilton
2. (of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves
   • Hollywood seems full of curvaceous blondes
   • a curvy young woman in a tight dress