beau

/bəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /bəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbō/ (ame, mw)

beau — noun

  • beausingular
  • beausplural

1. the man that a woman dates regularly and regards as her romantic partner — a rat

1.名詞C1
釋義

the man that a woman dates regularly and regards as her romantic partner — a rather old-fashioned way to say boyfriend

例句

Mei introduced her beau, Raj, to her parents during the family dinner last weekend.

introduced her beau — pattern for presenting a partner to family

At the family gathering, Sofia's grandmother asked about her beau using the old-fashioned word.

同義詞
  • boyfriend

    the standard modern term; far more common in everyday speech

  • suitor

    more formal, emphasises the intention to court or marry

  • date

    casual; can refer to either the person or the occasion

用法筆記

This sense sounds old-fashioned or literary in modern English. In everyday conversation, 'boyfriend' is far more common.

常見錯誤

❌She introduced her beau' (correct but sounds very dated).
✅She introduced her boyfriend
💡in everyday modern English, 'boyfriend' is the natural choice for most situations.

2. a man who pays very close attention to his clothes and appearance, often dressin

2.名詞C2
釋義

a man who pays very close attention to his clothes and appearance, often dressing in a showy or elegant way

例句

The captain called the young officer a beau because of his perfectly ironed uniform and shiny boots.

called the young officer a beau — used as a mild criticism

Hassan dressed like a 1920s Parisian beau, wearing a silk scarf and pocket watch.

同義詞
  • dandy

    more common synonym; also old-fashioned but better known

  • fashionista

    modern term, can refer to a person of any gender who follows fashion trends

反義詞
  • slob

    informal; a person who dresses untidily, the opposite of a dandy

用法筆記

This sense is dated and rarely used in everyday conversation. 'Dandy' or 'fashion-conscious' are more common modern alternatives.