beautiful
beautiful
Pronunciation
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
First syllable (bju):
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop (like the "b" in "book")
/j/ - voiced palatal approximant (like the "y" in "yes")
/uː/ - long close back rounded vowel (like the "oo" in "boot")
Second syllable (tɪ):
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop (like the "t" in "stop")
/ɪ/ - near-close near-central unrounded vowel (like the "i" in "bit")
Third syllable (fəl):
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative (like the "f" in "fish")
/əl/ - syllabic schwa (a central vowel sound like the "uh" in "above")
Word Form Variations
The word "beautiful" itself doesn't have variations for singular and plural because it's an adjective. Adjectives describe nouns and don't refer to quantity.
However, "beautiful" does have some related word forms:
Adverb: beautifully (describes how something is beautiful)
Noun:
Beauty (the quality of being beautiful)
Beautifulness (less common, another way to express the quality of being beautiful)
Negative adjective: unbeautiful (the opposite of beautiful)
Negative adverb: unbeautifully (the opposite of beautifully)
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Adjective:
Definition: Possessing qualities that are pleasing to the senses or the mind, arousing a feeling of admiration or delight.
Synonyms: gorgeous, stunning, lovely, attractive, exquisite, delightful, charming, pleasing, pretty, handsome (for people)
Antonyms: ugly, unattractive, repulsive, hideous, horrific, unpleasant
Adverb:
Definition: In a way that is pleasing to the senses or the mind.
Synonyms: gorgeously, stunningly, wonderfully, delightfully, charmingly, excellently
Antonyms: unbeautifully, poorly, badly, unattractively
Noun:
Beauty:
Definition: The quality of being pleasing to the senses or the mind.
Synonyms: gorgeousness, attractiveness, loveliness, charm, grace, splendor
Antonyms: ugliness, unattractiveness, repulsiveness
Beautifulness: (Less common)
Definition: The state or quality of being beautiful.
(Synonyms and antonyms are the same as for "beauty")
Examples of Use
Literature:
"The morning mist clung to the lake, creating a beautiful scene of tranquillity." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)
Newspapers:
"Scientists have discovered a new species of butterfly with stunningly beautiful iridescent wings." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"This recipe for homemade focaccia results in a beautiful, golden-brown loaf perfect for sharing." (Food Network website)
Entertainment Mediums:
(Movie): "Wow, that sunset is absolutely beautiful!" (Character dialogue in a romantic comedy)
(Music): "The song has a beautiful melody that stays with you long after it's over." (Music review)
General Public Discourse:
"She wore a beautiful dress to her graduation ceremony." (Conversation between friends)
"The park is especially beautiful in the spring when the flowers are in bloom." (Social media post with a picture)
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Beautiful
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." (Helen Keller) [Thoughts and feelings can be beautiful]
"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." (Kahlil Gibran) [Inner beauty is more important]
"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) [Appreciating the beauty in the world]
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." (Audrey Hepburn) [Inner qualities contribute to outer beauty]
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." (Confucius) [Beauty exists everywhere, but perception is key]
"If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads." (Anatole France) [Beauty can be a reason to take a certain path]
"There is a kind of beauty in imperfection." (Wabi-sabi, Japanese aesthetic) [Imperfections can hold beauty]
"Beauty is whatever gives joy." (John Keats) [Joy is a source of beauty]
"Those who find beauty in common things go a long way." (E.B. White) [Finding beauty in everyday life]
"We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." (Jimmy Carter) [Diversity creates a beautiful whole]
Etymology
The word "beautiful" is like a family tree with roots in another language! Here's the story:
Origin: The word "beautiful" comes from an old French word, "beauté," which means "charm" or "pleasantness." This French word appeared around the 12th century.
French Ancestor: "Beauté" itself comes from an even older Latin word, "bellus," which means "pretty" or "attractive."
First Use in English: People in England started using "beautiful" sometime in the 1400s. Back then, it sounded a bit different, more like "bewtiful."
So, "beautiful" travelled from an idea of being pleasant (Latin) to charming (French) before arriving in English as the word we know today!
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Beautiful
Describing Physical Beauty:
As pretty as a picture: This means someone is extremely attractive.
A real looker: This is a casual way to say someone is good-looking.
Drop-dead gorgeous: This emphasises someone's stunning beauty.
Easy on the eyes: This means someone is pleasant to look at.
A head-turner: This describes someone so attractive they make people stop and stare.
Inner Beauty:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: This means what someone finds beautiful is subjective and depends on personal taste.
Beauty is more than skin deep: This means true beauty comes from a person's character and personality, not just their looks.
General Phrases:
A beautiful sight: This describes something visually pleasing.
A beautiful sound: This describes something pleasant to hear.
A beautiful day: This describes a day with good weather or positive events.
A beautiful experience: This describes something wonderful and memorable.
A beautiful life: This describes a life filled with happiness and fulfilment.
Posts Related to Beautiful
Source Information
Definition of beautiful from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.