| English Dictionary |
BOLD
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does bold mean?
• BOLD (noun)
The noun BOLD has 1 sense:
1. a typeface with thick heavy lines
Familiarity information: BOLD used as a noun is very rare.
• BOLD (adjective)
The adjective BOLD has 3 senses:
1. fearless and daring
2. clear and distinct
3. very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
Familiarity information: BOLD used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A typeface with thick heavy lines
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
Hypernyms ("bold" is a kind of...):
case; face; font; fount; typeface (a specific size and style of type within a type family)
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: boldest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Fearless and daring
Context example:
a bold adventure
Similar:
audacious; brave; dauntless; fearless; hardy; intrepid; unfearing (invulnerable to fear or intimidation)
daredevil; temerarious (presumptuously daring)
emboldened (made bold or courageous)
foolhardy; heady; rash; reckless (marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences)
heroic; heroical (having or displaying qualities appropriate for heroes)
nervy (showing or requiring courage and contempt of danger)
overreaching; vaulting (revealing excessive self-confidence; reaching for the heights)
overvaliant (having or showing undue valor or boldness)
Also:
adventuresome; adventurous (willing to undertake or seeking out new and daring enterprises)
fearless; unafraid (oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them)
forward (used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty)
brave; courageous (possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching)
Attribute:
boldness; daring; hardihood; hardiness (the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger)
Antonym:
timid (showing fear and lack of confidence)
Derivation:
boldness (the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Clear and distinct
Context example:
a bold design
Similar:
conspicuous (obvious to the eye or mind)
Derivation:
boldness (the quality of standing out strongly and distinctly)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
Synonyms:
Context example:
a sheer descent of rock
Similar:
steep (having a sharp inclination)
Context examples
Ranged side by side with the bold, defiant eyes of the girl before him, he saw Ruth's clear, luminous eyes, like a saint's, gazing at him out of unplumbed depths of purity.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
There only remained the first mate, who was a bold and active man.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
There are only those three capable of playing so bold a game—there are Oberstein, La Rothiere, and Eduardo Lucas.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like occasion.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
The mission of the Fox Chase Cancer Center is to prevail over cancer by marshalling hearts and minds in bold scientific discovery, pioneering prevention, and compassionate care.
(Fox Chase Cancer Center, NCI Thesaurus)
On some islands the urban finches were even bolder than those on islands that had never seen invasive predators at all.
(A decade after the predators have gone, Galapagos Island finches are still being spooked, University of Cambridge)
The next morning she asked the way she was to go, and took leave of her father, and went forth with a bold heart into the wood.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
I am afraid to think so; it seems too bold.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
“Yes, he is,” I said, sliding out of the bunk and striving my hardest to keep my voice steady and bold.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"The coward shoots with shut eyes." (Native American proverb, tribe unknown)
"For every glance behind us, we have to look twice to the future." (Arabic proverb)
"Better late than never." (Czech proverb)