ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lulu

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɫuˌɫu// UK //lˈuːluː// lu·lu Slang

n. someone or something that is very impressive, unusual, or excellent. You use this when you find something quite remarkable or even funny because it is so extreme.

n. a person, object, or idea that is remarkable, outstanding, or highly impressive. Often carries a humorous or slightly ironic tone when describing something extreme or surprising.


SIMPLE

That last joke he told was a real lulu.

CONTEXTUAL

After hours of searching for a mistake, she found a lulu of an error that had crashed the entire system.

COMPLEX

The storm last night was a real lulu, knocking down several ancient oaks and leaving the entire valley without power for nearly forty-eight hours.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

A reduplication of Lu, a clipping of given names with the first syllable of Lu, Lou, such as Lucy, Lucille, Louise, Louisa.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Chinese 璐璐, 露露, 璐露, 露璐, etc.; in turn from 璐, 露, etc. From the Chinese practice of reduplicating a syllable or character to create a female name. * From Mandarin Lù Lù, Lù-Lù, Lù-lù, Lùlù / Lu4lu4 / ㄌㄨˋㄌㄨˋ; in turn from Lù/lù, ㄌㄨˋ, Lu4/lu4. From Middle Chinese luH/LuH * From Cantonese Lou6lou6; in turn from Lou6/lou6. From Middle Chinese luH/LuH * From Taishanese Lu5lu5; in turn from Lu5/lu5. From Middle Chinese luH/LuH

Etymology 3

From Arabic لُؤْلُؤ (luʔluʔ, literally “pearl”).

Usage

Often used in the construction 'a lulu of a(n) [noun]' to emphasize the quality of the following word.

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