elegance

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Academic

n. the beauty of an idea or solution that is simple but works perfectly.

n. the quality of being pleasingly ingenious and simple; often used to describe mathematical proofs or software code.

“Engineers admired the elegance of the new bridge design because it used very few parts.”

“The mathematician was praised for the elegance of his proof, which solved a century-old problem in just three pages.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary

n. a refined or expensive thing or habit.

n. a specific refinement, luxury, or graceful act. Countable in this sense, though increasingly rare in modern speech.

“In the old days, having fresh flowers every morning was one of her little elegances.”

“The memoir describes the vanished elegances of pre-war society, from formal afternoon tea to the meticulous dress codes of the era.”