Definition and pronunciation
nude /nuːd/ — adjective, noun, and sometimes verb.
- Adjective: naked, without clothes; also describes a pale skin-like color (nude color).
- Noun: a naked human figure, especially in art.
- Verb (rare/archaic): to make naked.
Easy explanation
Nude usually means being naked without clothes. In art, it refers to the human body shown without clothing. In fashion, “nude” also describes colors that match skin tones, like beige or light brown.
Grammatical formation
- Adjective: nude, more nude, most nude.
- Noun: nude (plural: nudes).
- Adverb: nudely (rare).
- Related forms: nudity (state of being nude).
Meanings and nuances
- Naked body — unclothed human body (“He posed nude for the painting”).
- Artistic subject — artistic representation of the unclothed body (“a classical nude sculpture”).
- Fashion/beauty — skin-tone shades (“nude lipstick,” “nude heels”).
- Photography/erotica — nude pictures or “nudes” often refer to sexual or intimate images.
With prepositions and variants
- nude in art: “The museum displays a nude in marble.”
- nude for a photo: “She posed nude for the magazine.”
- go nude = be unclothed.
Common collocations
nude photo, nude painting, nude figure, nude model, nude art, go nude, pose nude, send nudes (slang), nude lipstick, nude color
Idioms and neighboring expressions
- “in the nude” — naked
- “send nudes” — slang for requesting intimate photos
- “go nude” — appear without clothes, or wear nothing under clothing
Word comparisons
- nude vs naked: naked = unclothed (often vulnerable); nude = unclothed (neutral or artistic).
- nude vs bare: bare = uncovered (not always body); nude = specifically human unclothed body.
- nude vs erotic: nude = can be neutral (art); erotic = explicitly sexual.
Real-life examples
- “The painter created a famous nude portrait.”
- “He walked around nude in the hotel room.”
- “Nude heels matched her skin tone.”
- “The gallery displayed several Renaissance nudes.”
- “She wore a nude shade of lipstick.”
Sample sentences
- “He posed nude for the sculpture.”
- “The magazine published an artistic nude.”
- “She wore a dress in nude color.”
- “The ancient Greeks celebrated the nude in art.”
- “Nude photography can be artistic or erotic.”
- “She painted a nude figure on the canvas.”
- “He was embarrassed to be seen in the nude.”
- “Fashion designers often use nude tones.”
- “The law restricts public displays of the nude body.”
- “The model appeared nude for the ad campaign.”
Synonyms
naked, unclothed, bare, undressed, disrobed, stripped, unclad, exposed
Antonyms
clothed, dressed, covered, attired, robed, wrapped
Related terms
nudity, naked, bare, undressed, erotic, figure study, body art
Connection to sexuality
Yes. Nude is closely tied to sexuality in many contexts. While in art it can be neutral or aesthetic (e.g., nude paintings, sculptures), in modern culture nudes often means sexual photos or erotic imagery. The meaning depends on context — it may be artistic, fashionable, or sexual.
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