English Dictionary

Definition of “bold

bold (bəʊldPronunciation for bold

Definitions

adjective

  1. courageous, confident, and fearless; ready to take risks
  2. showing or requiring courage  ⇒ a bold plan 
  3. immodest or impudent  ⇒ she gave him a bold look 
  4. standing out distinctly; conspicuous  ⇒ a figure carved in bold relief 
  5. very steep  ⇒ the bold face of the cliff 
  6. imaginative in thought or expression  ⇒ the novel's bold plot 
  7. printing set in bold face

noun

  1. printing short for bold face

Alternative Forms

ˈboldly adverb ˈboldness noun

Word Origin

Old English beald ; related to Old Norse ballr  dangerous, terrible, baldinn  defiant, Old High German bald bold

Quotations

  • "Bold knaves thrive without one grain of sense,But good men starve for want of impudence" John Dryden
  • "The bold are always lucky"

Usage examples

  • After their encounter of the afternoon the girl would have preferred not to meet the bold stare of his silver eyes.
    Curzon, Clare, The Quest for K (1986)
  • The film asks the big and bold question: Why is America such a vast killing field?
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • The pundits who predicted that the location was too downmarket and the scheme too bold to attract buyers were proved wrong.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • He thought me bold , and yet I am sure I never blushed so much in any man's society before.
    Katie Hickman, COURTESANS (2003)

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