ENGLISH
REFERENCE

haute

adj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈhət// haute Archaic

adj. high-class or very expensive. It usually describes things like fashion or cooking that are very high quality and follow a specific style.

adj. denoting high status, exclusivity, or superior quality, particularly in the realms of fashion and gastronomy. Borrowed from French, it is almost exclusively used in fixed phrases like 'haute couture' or 'haute cuisine'.


SIMPLE

She only wears haute couture to red carpet events.

CONTEXTUAL

The restaurant is famous for its haute cuisine, combining traditional techniques with modern presentation.

COMPLEX

While the designer's main line is accessible to the public, his haute couture collection remains a strictly bespoke service for a handful of elite clients worldwide.

Origin

Unadapted borrowing from French, extracted from terms such as haute cuisine and haute couture.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun in specific French-derived loan phrases.

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