ELEGANCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does elegance mean? 

• ELEGANCE (noun)
  The noun ELEGANCE has 2 senses:

1. a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste

2. a quality of neatness and ingenious simplicity in the solution of a problem (especially in science or mathematics)

  Familiarity information: ELEGANCE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ELEGANCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A refined quality of gracefulness and good taste

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

she conveys an aura of elegance and gentility

Hypernyms ("elegance" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "elegance"):

dash; elan; flair; panache; style (distinctive and stylish elegance)

daintiness; delicacy; fineness (the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance)

courtliness (elegance suggestive of a royal court)

tastefulness (elegance indicated by good taste)

breeding; genteelness; gentility (elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression)

chic; chichi; chicness; last word; modishness; smartness; stylishness; swank (elegance by virtue of being fashionable)

brilliance; grandeur; grandness; magnificence; splendor; splendour (the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand)

eclat; pomp (ceremonial elegance and splendor)

class (elegance in dress or behavior)

Antonym:

inelegance (the quality of lacking refinement and good taste)

Derivation:

elegant (refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style)

elegant (suggesting taste, ease, and wealth)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A quality of neatness and ingenious simplicity in the solution of a problem (especially in science or mathematics)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the simplicity and elegance of his invention

Hypernyms ("elegance" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Derivation:

elegant (displaying effortless beauty and simplicity in movement or execution)

 Context examples 

“Mrs. Weston's manners,” said Emma, “were always particularly good. Their propriety, simplicity, and elegance, would make them the safest model for any young woman.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe united.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

For my own part, said he, I am excessively fond of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

To the former she was an interesting object, and he saw with pleasure the general elegance of her appearance, and her being in remarkably good looks.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The furniture was in all the profusion and elegance of modern taste.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Standing in the doorway and glancing round me, I had a general impression of extraordinary comfort and elegance combined with an atmosphere of masculine virility.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Meg and Amy were contrary-minded, and Mr. Winkle rose to say with great elegance, We don't wish any boys, they only joke and bounce about.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

They offered books and painting, beauty and repose, and all the fine elegance of higher existence.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

What was the gallant grace of the Lynns, the languid elegance of Lord Ingram,—even the military distinction of Colonel Dent, contrasted with his look of native pith and genuine power?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The comfort, the freedom, the gaiety of the room was over, hushed into cold composure, determined silence, or insipid talk, to meet the heartless elegance of her father and sister.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)