colourful
/'kʌləful/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having many or bright colors; vividly colored: Describes something that contains a variety of colors or is very bright and intense in color.
- Full of interest, variety, or excitement; lively and unusual: Describes a person, period, or thing that is interesting, vivid, or characterized by unusual or exciting features.
- Using rude or offensive words; vulgar: Describes language that is vivid, often in a crude, profane, or explicit way.
Usage and Examples
Describing appearance:
- The garden was full of colourful flowers. (The garden contained many brightly colored flowers.)
- She wore a colourful scarf. (Her scarf had many vivid colors.)
Describing character or events:
- He told us a colourful story about his travels. (He told us a very interesting and vivid story.)
- The city has a long and colourful history. (The city's history is full of interesting and exciting events.)
Describing language:
- The sailor's speech was rather colourful. (The sailor used a lot of rude or profane words.)
Advanced Usage
- "A colourful character": A person who is unusual, interesting, and often eccentric.
- The old fisherman was a real colourful character, always telling wild tales.
- "Colourful language": Speech that is full of swear words, profanity, or vivid, often crude expressions.
- The coach was known for his colourful language during games.
Variants and Related Words
- Colorful (adj): The standard American English spelling. Has the same meanings as 'colourful'.
- Colourfully (adv): In a colourful manner.
- The market was colourfully decorated.
- Colourfulness (n): The quality of being colourful.
- The colourfulness of the parade delighted everyone.
Synonyms
- Vibrant: Full of energy and life; bright.
- Vivid: Producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind; very bright.
- Picturesque: Visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way.
- Flamboyant: Tending to attract attention because of confidence, exuberance, or stylishness.
- Explicit (for language): Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt; often referring to crude content.
Antonyms
- Colourless: Lacking color; dull or uninteresting.
- Drab: Lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull.
- Plain: Simple or ordinary; not decorated or elaborate.
- Subdued: Quiet and rather reflective or depressed; not bright or intense.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- To lead a colourful life: To have a life full of exciting, unusual, or sometimes scandalous experiences.
- The retired spy was said to have led a very colourful life.
- A colourful past: A history that contains interesting, exciting, or possibly disreputable events.
- The respectable businessman had a rather colourful past.
Adjective
- having striking color
- colorful autumn leaves
- striking in variety and interest
- a colorful period of history
- a colorful character
- colorful language