adj., -i·er, -i·est.
Showy in a tasteless or vulgar way.
[Possibly from GAUDY2 (influenced by GAUD).]
gaudily gaud'i·ly adv.gaudiness gaud'i·ness n.
SYNONYMS gaudy, flashy, garish, loud, meretricious, tawdry. These adjectives mean tastelessly showy: a gaudy costume; a flashy ring; garish colors; a loud sport shirt; a meretricious yet stylish book; tawdry ornaments.
gaud·y2 (gô'dē)
n. Chiefly British, pl., -ies.
A feast, especially an annual university dinner.
[Middle English gaudi, gaud, prank, trick, possibly from Old French gaudie, merriment (from gaudir, to enjoy, make merry , from Latin gaudēre, to rejoice) and from Latin gaudium, enjoyment, merry-making (from gaudēre, to rejoice).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
