What does "nude" mean?
A painting, sculpture, photograph or other artwork or mass-media-reproduced image depicting one or more human figure(s) in a state of near or total undress.
Nude
/n(j)uːd/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A painting, sculpture, photograph or other artwork or mass-media-reproduced image depicting one or more human figure(s) in a state of near or total undress.
- Grammar: nude is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: nude painting, nude sculpture, art object, art work.
- Useful contrasts: valid, clothed, clothed artwork.
- Usage evidence: This nude poster appeals visually to the young.
How to use "nude"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "nude" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "nude" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "nude" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "nude" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "nude" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "nude painting" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "nude", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A painting, sculpture, photograph or other artwork or mass-media-reproduced image depicting one or more human figure(s) in a state of near or total undress.
"Michelangelo's David is a well-known standing male nude; Michelangelo also created several other nudes."
- 2 a painting of a naked human figure wordnet
- 3 The state of total nudity.
"she caught him in the nude"
- 4 a statue of a naked human figure wordnet
- 5 A color that resembles or evokes bare flesh; a paint, dye, etc. of such color.
"What eye shadow looks best on my eye color? Brown eyes – Off whites, nudes, peaches, and purples."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 a naked person wordnet
- 7 without clothing (especially in the phrase ‘in the nude’) wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Without clothing or other covering of the skin; without clothing on the genitals or female nipples. not-comparable
"Why do you act so prudish whenever you see nude people?"
- 2 Of a color (such as beige or tan) that evokes bare flesh. comparable, usually
"Vanessa always wore the same color on both her hands and feet—Hitchcock Blonde—a barely-there nude color with a dash of pink that was only two shades away from clear topcoat. It was the sort of thing you would imagine Grace Kelly in […]"
- 3 Not valid; void. archaic, not-comparable
"A void sale is that which can never take effect; in which the articles opposed to each other, or one of them, not bearing any legal value the contract is nude."
Adjective
- 1 having no clothes on the body wordnet
Synonyms
All synonyms nude paintingnude sculptureart objectart workau naturelau naturel
Example
"This nude poster appeals visually to the young."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nude"?
Common synonyms include: nude painting, nude sculpture, art object, art work, au naturel, au naturel.
How do you use "nude" in a sentence?
This nude poster appeals visually to the young.
How do you pronounce "nude"?
Pronounced /n(j)uːd/.
Etymology
Entered English 1493 as a legal term, meaning "unsupported, not formally attested," from Middle English nud, from Latin nūdus (“naked, bare”).