horn-rimmed

Thân thiện

A librarian adjusts her horn-rimmed glasses while reading a book.

Definition

Adjective: - Having eyeglass frames made from horn, tortoiseshell, or a plastic material that imitates the appearance of these substances. This term is almost exclusively used to describe the style of eyeglass frames.

Usage and Examples

The adjective horn-rimmed is used attributively, meaning it is placed directly before the noun it modifies, most commonly "glasses" or "spectacles."

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used figuratively to evoke a specific aesthetic, era (e.g., the 1950s or 1960s), or personality type (e.g., intellectual, bookish, or retro).
  • The character was given a horn-rimmed look to emphasize his nerdy persona.

Variants and Related Words

• Horn-rims (noun, informal): A shortened, colloquial term for horn-rimmed glasses.
  • He took off his horn-rims and rubbed his eyes.

Synonyms

• Thick-framed: Describes glasses with prominent frames, though not necessarily made of the specific materials implied by "horn-rimmed."
• Tortoiseshell (when describing the pattern): Refers to the distinctive mottled brown pattern often associated with classic horn-rimmed frames.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning is descriptive of the frame's material or simulated appearance. While originally made from actual animal horn or tortoiseshell, modern "horn-rimmed" glasses are almost always made from acetate or other plastics designed to mimic that classic look.
• It is a compound adjective. As per the instruction, the explanation focuses on this specific compound form.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having the frame made of horn or tortoise shell or plastic that simulates either
   • horn-rimmed glasses