story-book

A child reads a colorful story-book before bedtime.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A book of stories (especially for children): "story-book" refers to a book containing a collection of stories, typically intended for children and often illustrated.

Usage Examples

• (A book of stories for children.)
• (A dedicated area for children's story collections.)

Advanced Usage

• "story-book ending": a perfect, happy, or ideal conclusion, as if from a fairy tale or children's story.

  • Their romance had a story-book ending, with a wedding in a castle. (An improbably happy and perfect conclusion.)

• "story-book romance": a romantic relationship that is extremely idealistic or fairy-tale-like.

  • They met in Paris and had a story-book romance. (A romance that seems too perfect to be real.)

Variants and Related Words

• Story (n): an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.

  • She told a story about a brave knight. (A narrative.)

• Book (n): a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side.

  • He read a book about history. (A bound volume.)

Synonyms

• Fairy tale: a children's story about magical and imaginary beings.
• Tale: a narrative, real or fictional.

Related Idioms

• "Like a story-book": used to describe something that is as perfect or charming as events in a children's story.

  • Their house in the countryside was like a story-book. (Picturesque and idyllic.)

• "Out of a story-book": seeming to come from a fictional narrative, often implying unrealistic perfection.

  • The proposal was out of a story-book, complete with roses and a ring. (Extremely romantic and idealized.)