gaud´i|ness

gaud|y¹ «G dee», adjective, gaud|i|er, gaud|i|est, noun, plural gaud|ies.

–adj.

1. too bright and gay to be in good taste; cheap and showy: »

gaudy jewelry. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, but not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy (Shakespeare).

2. brilliantly fine or gay; showy: »

Peacocks have gaudy plumage.

–n.

Obsolete. a gaud.

–gaud´i|ly, adverb.

–gaud´i|ness, noun.

Synonym Study adjective.1 Gaudy, flashy, showy mean done for display. Gaudy suggests loud colors and overdone ornament: »

a gaudy purple and orange dress. She would be attractive if she did not wear such gaudy jewelry.

Flashy suggests an eye-catching and dazzling but cheap display: »

a flashy necktie.

Showy suggests a striking display, but not necessarily a flashy or gaudy one: »

Peacocks are showy birds.

gaud|y² «G dee», noun, plural gaud|ies.

British. a festival or celebration, especially an annual college banquet.

╂[< Latin gaudium joy, a rejoicing < gaudēre rejoice]