Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [taw-dree]
- /ˈtɔ dri/
- /ˈtɔː.dri/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [taw-dree]
- /ˈtɔ dri/
Definitions of tawdry word
- adjective tawdry (of finery, trappings, etc.) gaudy; showy and cheap. 1
- adjective tawdry low or mean; base: tawdry motives. 1
- noun tawdry cheap, gaudy apparel. 1
- adjective tawdry If you describe something such as clothes or decorations as tawdry, you mean that they are cheap and show a lack of taste. 0
- adjective tawdry If you describe something such as a story or an event as tawdry, you mean that it is unpleasant or immoral. 0
- adjective tawdry cheap, showy, and of poor quality 0
Information block about the term
Origin of tawdry
First appearance:
before 1605 One of the 40% oldest English words
1605-15; short for (Sain)t Audrey lace, i.e., neck lace bought at St. Audrey's Fair in Ely, England; so called after St. Audrey (Old English Aethelthrȳth, died 679), Northumbrian queen and patron saint of Ely, who, according to tradition, died of a throat tumor which she considered just punishment of her youthful liking for neck laces
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Tawdry
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
tawdry popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 71% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
tawdry usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for tawdry
adj tawdry
- blinding — A blinding light is extremely bright.
- brazen — If you describe a person or their behaviour as brazen, you mean that they are very bold and do not care what other people think about them or their behaviour.
- brummagem — something that is cheap and flashy, esp imitation jewellery
- catchpenny — designed to have instant appeal, esp in order to sell quickly and easily without regard for quality
- cheap — Goods or services that are cheap cost less money than usual or than you expected.
Top questions with tawdry
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with t
- Words starting with ta
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- Words starting with tawdry