chaste

/tʃeɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /tʃeɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈchāst/ (ame, mw)

chaste — adjective

  • chastepositive
  • chastercomparative
  • chastestsuperlative

1. avoiding sex outside marriage, either because of religious belief or because of

1.形容詞C1
釋義

avoiding sex outside marriage, either because of religious belief or because of a personal moral choice; sometimes also describing thoughts and behaviour that show no sexual interest.

例句

Owen took a vow to remain chaste until his wedding day.

common pattern: remain / stay chaste

In the novel, the young nun lives a chaste and quiet life inside the convent walls.

attributive use before noun

同義詞
  • celibate

    more clinical; usually means not having sex at all, often by formal vow

  • pure

    broader moral or physical cleanness; not limited to sexual behaviour

  • virtuous

    wider moral praise; covers honesty and kindness as well as sexual conduct

反義詞
  • promiscuous

    having many sexual partners; carries a negative tone

  • lustful

    showing strong sexual desire, especially in thought

用法筆記

Often used in religious, historical, or literary writing. Modern everyday English usually prefers 'not having sex' or 'celibate'; learners should expect 'chaste' mainly in novels, sermons, and discussions of tradition.

常見錯誤

❌She is very chaste with money.
✅She is very careful with money.
💡'chaste' is not used to mean 'careful' or 'restrained' in general; it specifically refers to sexual behaviour or, by extension, modesty in thought.

2. describing a building, room, dress, or other designed object as having very simp

2.形容詞C2
釋義

describing a building, room, dress, or other designed object as having very simple, clean lines and almost no decoration, in a way that feels deliberate and elegant.

例句

The new museum has a chaste white facade with no ornament at all.

typical subjects: facade, design, interior

Élise wore a chaste grey dress with a single silver pin at the collar.

collocation: a chaste dress / outfit

同義詞
  • austere

    harsher in tone; suggests strict, almost cold simplicity

  • understated

    more everyday; quietly stylish rather than visibly plain

  • spare

    stresses very few elements, often in modern design

反義詞
  • ornate

    covered with detailed decoration

  • florid

    showy and overly decorated, often in a negative tone

用法筆記

Almost only used in writing about art, architecture, fashion, and interiors, where it praises a designer's restraint. Distinguish from sense 1: here the word is about visual style, not human sexual conduct.

常見錯誤

❌The food was chaste and tasty.
✅The food was simple and tasty.
💡'chaste' for plain style is reserved for visual design (buildings, clothes, art), not food, music, or writing.