piebald
/'paibɔ:ld/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having sections or patches of different colors, especially black and white: Describes an animal, particularly a horse, with a coat marked by irregular patches of two distinct colors, typically black and white.
- Composed of a mixture of diverse or incongruous elements: Used figuratively to describe something made up of a varied, often mismatched, assortment of parts or people.
Usage Examples
- Literal (describing animals):
- Figurative (describing a mixed collection):
Advanced Usage
- "Piebald" as a noun (rare, chiefly historical): Can refer to a piebald animal, especially a horse.
- Used in formal or literary contexts to emphasize striking contrast or incongruous variety.
Variants and Related Words
- Pied (adj): Similar in meaning, often used for birds or other animals with black and white plumage/fur (e.g., ).
- Skewbald (adj): Specifically describes an animal, especially a horse, with irregular patches of white and a color (e.g., brown, bay).
- Motley (adj): Emphasizes a diverse, often jumbled, mixture; can also refer to a multicolored garment worn by a jester.
- Parti-colored (adj): Having different parts colored differently; variegated.
Synonyms
- Spotted
- Dappled
- Variegated
- Multicolored (for the figurative sense)
- Heterogeneous (for the figurative sense)
Antonyms
- Solid-colored
- Uniform
- Homogeneous (for the figurative sense)
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "A piebald crowd": A crowd made up of many different types of people.
- "Piebald history": A history composed of varied and contrasting events or elements.
Adjective
- having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly
- a jester dressed in motley
- the painted desert
- a particolored dress
- a piebald horse
- pied daisies