austere

CEFRC1

/ɒˈstɪə(ɹ)/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

01
adjective
Very simple and plain, without comfort or decoration.
02
adjective
Extra detail
Adhering to the economic policy of austerity.

Examples

Austere economic policies have significantly affected economic performance.
Ms. Eichler had a notorious reputation for being austere to her students.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses: 5
Parts of speech: 1
Citations: 4
Synonyms: 5

Also pronounced

/ɔˈstiɹ/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

Lacking decoration; trivial; not extravagant or gaudy.
Grim or severe in manner or appearance.
Harsh; astringent.

More examples

In context

The headmistress was an austere old woman.
The interior of the church was as austere as the parishioners were dour.
So we come, at above street level, into the city, and to Canterbury East Station (9.8 miles). It is an austere, rather barn-like structure, with a high roof over the two platforms.

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The monk's blank lifestyle included only a wooden bed and a single bowl.

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Nearby

Citations

The word in print, with each source given in full.

So we come, at above street level, into the city, and to Canterbury East Station (9.8 miles). It is an austere, rather barn-like structure, with a high roof over the two platforms.
1958 October 26, Rev. A. W. V. Mace, “From Faversham to Dover—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 670
Even the austere philosopher Immanuel Kant of Koenigsberg, it is said, whose habits were so regular that the citizens of that town set their watches by him, postponed the hour of his afternoon stroll when he received the news [of the fall of the Bastille], thus convincing Koenigsberg that a world-shaking event had indeed happened.
1962, Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Revolution, page 61
Counterintuitively, in an effort to be austere and save money, cities which only remove a crossing every couple of years manage to be way less efficient at it than Melbourne has been.
2024 December 14, Reece Martin, “Learning from Melbourne’s Level Crossing Removal Project” (9:05 from the start), in RMTransit
It is like a small plum, nearly globular in shape, black covered with a bluish bloom, and with a very austere taste.
1862, Charles Pierpoint Johnson, The Useful Plants of Great Britain, page 85

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Origin

adjective

From Ancient Greek αὐστηρός (austērós, “bitter, harsh, astringent”), having the specific meaning “making the tongue dry” (originally used of fruits, wines), related to αὔω (aúō, “to singe”), αὖος (aûos, “dry”).

Deep Dive

adjective

More examples

Related

Quick test

The monk's blank— lifestyle included only a wooden bed and a single bowl.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

The monk's blank lifestyle included only a wooden bed and a single bowl.