lanky
/'læɳki/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Tall and thin: Describes a person who is ungracefully tall and slender, often with long limbs that may appear awkward or disproportionate.
Usage
- The word "lanky" is used to describe a person's physical build. It often carries a neutral or slightly informal tone and can imply a sense of gawkiness or youthfulness due to rapid growth.
- It is typically used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become').
Examples
- Adjective:
- The basketball player had a lanky frame that gave him a reach advantage.
- He was a lanky teenager, all elbows and knees.
- She grew into a tall, lanky woman.
Advanced Usage
- "Lanky" vs. "Gangling": While both mean tall and thin, "gangling" more strongly emphasizes awkwardness and loose-jointed movement. "Lanky" can sometimes describe a more settled, though still slender, tallness.
- His lanky stride covered the ground quickly. (Emphasizes long limbs.)
- The gangling colt struggled to stand. (Emphasizes awkwardness.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lank (adj): Long and limp. Often used for hair or grass, not typically for a person's overall build.
- Her lank hair hung straight down.
- Lankiness (n): The quality or state of being lanky.
- His lankiness made it hard to find clothes that fit.
Synonyms
- Gangling: Tall, thin, and awkward.
- Rangy: Tall and slender with long limbs; can imply athletic leanness.
- Spindly: Tall, thin, and looking weak or frail.
Antonyms
- Stocky: Short and solidly built.
- Stout: Somewhat fat or bulky.
- Squat: Short and thick.
Related Phrases and Idioms
(Note: "Lanky" itself is not commonly used in fixed idioms. Its meaning is conveyed directly.) - All arms and legs: An informal phrase describing a lanky, awkward person, especially a young one. - At fourteen, he was all arms and legs.
Adjective
- tall and thin
- tall and thin and having long slender limbs
- a gangling teenager
- a lanky kid transformed almost overnight into a handsome young man