beauty

beauty — noun

1. a special quality in someone or something that gives people pleasure through wha

1.nounB1
Definition

a special quality in someone or something that gives people pleasure through what they see, hear, or imagine.

Example

The beauty of the snowy valley kept the hikers silent for a minute.

the beauty of + place

Even in black and white, the old film still has great beauty.

Common collocations
  • natural beauty
  • inner beauty
  • beauty of nature
  • timeless beauty
Synonyms
  • loveliness

    is close, but it sounds a little warmer and more literary.

  • attractiveness

    focuses more on outward appeal, especially appearance.

  • elegance

    suggests beauty that comes from simplicity or good design.

  • charm

    can be lighter and more personal than full beauty.

Antonyms
  • ugliness

    is the direct opposite in appearance or effect.

  • plainness

    suggests a lack of beauty rather than something ugly.

Grammar Patterns

the beauty of + noun

Usage Note

Usually uncountable in this sense and often followed by 'of' plus the thing admired: the beauty of the mountains, the beauty of silence. Distinguish from noun/2, where beauty means a beautiful person or thing.

Common Mistakes

The garden has a beauty.
The garden has beauty.
use the uncountable noun when you mean the quality itself.
I enjoyed the beauty from the song.
I enjoyed the beauty of the song.
this sense commonly uses 'of', not 'from'.

2. someone or something that stands out because it looks especially beautiful.

2.nounB1
Definition

someone or something that stands out because it looks especially beautiful.

Example

When the baby smiled, Grandma called him a little beauty.

a little beauty

That old wooden boat is a beauty after the fresh blue paint.

be + a beauty

Common collocations
  • a real beauty
  • little beauty
  • such a beauty
  • absolute beauty
Synonyms
  • stunner

    is informal and usually used for a very attractive person.

  • showpiece

    fits an object that attracts attention because it looks impressive.

  • gem

    often suggests a small thing that is especially pleasing or valuable.

Antonyms
  • eyesore

    is a strong opposite for something unpleasant to look at.

Grammar Patterns

a beauty

a real beauty

such a beauty

Usage Note

Countable in this sense, so it normally appears with an article or modifier: a beauty, a real beauty, such a beauty. Distinguish from noun/1, where beauty is the quality rather than the person or thing admired.

Common Mistakes

She is beauty.
She is a beauty.
this sense is countable and needs an article.
That car is very beauty.
That car is a beauty.
use the noun pattern with an article, or use the adjective 'beautiful'.

3. the work and business of helping people improve their appearance with skin care,

3.nounB2
Definition

the work and business of helping people improve their appearance with skin care, make-up, hair treatments, and similar services.

Example

Rina hopes to start her own beauty business after college.

beauty business

Many students study beauty at a trade school in Kaohsiung.

study beauty

Common collocations
  • beauty business
  • beauty industry
  • beauty salon
  • beauty treatments
  • study beauty
Synonyms
  • cosmetology

    is more technical and often used for formal study or training.

  • beauty care

    focuses on treatments and services rather than the whole business.

  • cosmetics industry

    focuses more on products and companies that sell them.

Grammar Patterns

work in beauty

study beauty

beauty business

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and common in industry phrases such as 'beauty business', 'beauty industry', 'work in beauty', and 'study beauty'. Distinguish from noun/1, which names the quality of being beautiful.

Common Mistakes

She works on beauty.
She works in beauty.
use 'in' when you mean the industry or field.
He opened a beauty.
He opened a beauty salon.
this sense names the field, not a shop by itself.

4. something that is unusually good of its kind and deserves admiration.

4.nounC1
Definition

something that is unusually good of its kind and deserves admiration.

Example

That last goal was a beauty from thirty metres out.

a beauty for an outstanding action

Nora found a beauty of a table at the weekend market.

a beauty of a + noun

Common collocations
  • a beauty of a goal
  • a beauty of a table
  • a beauty of a cake
Synonyms
  • gem

    is a close informal match for something especially good.

  • masterpiece

    is stronger and best for work showing great skill.

  • winner

    focuses on success or usefulness more than admiration.

Antonyms
  • dud

    is an informal opposite for something disappointing or poor.

  • lemon

    is informal and especially used for a bad car or machine.

Grammar Patterns

a beauty

a beauty of a + noun

Usage Note

Countable and often informal. Common after 'be' or in the pattern 'a beauty of a + noun'. Distinguish from noun/2, where the focus is how attractive the person or thing looks; this sense praises overall quality or excellence.

Common Mistakes

That pass was beauty.
That pass was a beauty.
this sense is countable and needs an article.
It was a beauty car.
The car was a beauty.
this noun usually follows 'be', or appears in 'a beauty of a + noun'.
Idioms

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

idiom

Different people have different opinions about what is beautiful.

Maya thinks the painting is ugly, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Do you believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or are some things universally beautiful?

beauty is only skin-deep

idiom

A person's appearance is not as important as their inner qualities.

Sara learned that beauty is only skin-deep when she met her kind friend.

Remember, beauty is only skin-deep, so focus on being a good person.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, beauty is the broad, central word for the quality that gives pleasure to the eye, ear, or mind. Loveliness is close, but it sounds warmer and more emotional. Attractiveness is broader and often more practical, especially for physical appearance. Charm can be lighter and more personal: a room or person may have charm without being truly beautiful. Elegance points to beauty that comes from balance, simplicity, or refined design. So you might talk about the beauty of mountain light, the loveliness of a child's smile, the attractiveness of a model, the charm of a small cafe, and the elegance of a clean black dress.

beauty ↗loveliness ↗attractivenesscharm ↗elegance ↗

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Beauty came into English from Old French 'beaute'. That French form grew from 'beau', meaning 'fair' or 'good-looking', and it goes back to a Latin root linked with the idea of something fine or pleasing. In English, the word first named outward attractiveness, then widened to include beauty in music, ideas, and other things people admire.