Skip navigation.

bold - What does it mean?

Definition of 'bold'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) bold, from (etyl) bold, blod, bolt, .

Alternative forms

*

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (obsolete) A dwelling; habitation; building.
    • Related terms
    * *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) bold, bald, beald, from (etyl) bald, .

    Adjective

    (boldness) (er)
  • Courageous, daring.
  • *|chapter=22
    • |title= The Mirror and the Lamp |passage=Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part. Thus outraged, she showed herself to be a bold as well as a furious virago. Next day she found her way to their lodgings and tried to recover her ward by the hair of the head.}}
  • * 2005 , (Plato), Sophist . Translation by Lesley Brown. .
    • It would be extraordinarily bold of me to give it a try after seeing what has happened to you.
  • (of a font) Having thicker strokes than the ordinary form of the typeface.
  • Presumptuous.
  • * 1748 , (David Hume), Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. ยง 9.
    • even the boldest and most affirmative philosophy, that has ever attempted to impose its crude dictates and principles on mankind.
    Synonyms
    * (courageous) audacious, brave, courageous, daring, forward * See also
    Related terms
    * embolden

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To make (a font or some text) bold.
  • (obsolete) To make bold or daring.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) To become bold.
    • (Webster 1913) ----

    Similar to 'bold'

    blood, bleed, bled, build, blud, bald, blad, beeld, baled, blued, bield, bould, beild, belid