POMP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pomp mean? 

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

1. cheap or pretentious or vain display

2. ceremonial elegance and splendor

  Familiarity information: POMP used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POMP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cheap or pretentious or vain display

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

gaudery; pomp

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

display; show (something intended to communicate a particular impression)

Derivation:

pompous (puffed up with vanity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Ceremonial elegance and splendor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

eclat; pomp

Context example:

entered with much eclat in a coach drawn by eight white horses

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

elegance (a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste)

Derivation:

pompous (characterized by pomp and ceremony and stately display)

 Context examples 

Everything was ready, and all the pomp and brightness of the court was there.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

And now, when all was settled, and when abbess and lady superior had had their will, it was but fitting that some pomp and show should mark the glad occasion.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Where the sun had gone down in simple state—pure of the pomp of clouds—spread a solemn purple, burning with the light of red jewel and furnace flame at one point, on one hill-peak, and extending high and wide, soft and still softer, over half heaven.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

You may possibly remember that you chaffed me a little, some hours ago, when the sun seemed on your side of the hedge, so you must not grudge me a little pomp and ceremony now.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And because my first inclination was to be entertained with scenes of pomp and magnificence, I desired to see Alexander the Great at the head of his army, just after the battle of Arbela: which, upon a motion of the governor’s finger, immediately appeared in a large field, under the window where we stood.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

And Snowdrop consented, and went home with the prince; and everything was got ready with great pomp and splendour for their wedding.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

And she had three great crowns on her head, and around her stood all the pomp and power of the Church.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Then the wedding was held with great pomp, but as the train came from the church, and passed with the torches before the hall, a very small ray of light fell upon the prince.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

In June she married Tom Buchanan of Chicago with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville ever knew before.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)