ENGLISH
REFERENCE

nude

adj. · n.
US //ˈnud// UK //njˈuːd// nude
  1. 1 not wearing clothes (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not wearing any clothes; naked.

    without clothing or other covering of the skin; naked.

    Example

    The swimmers found a quiet beach where they could go nude.

    Example

    The protesters marched through the city centre nude to draw attention to their environmental campaign, though they were eventually stopped by local authorities.
  2. 2 skin-coloured (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    having a pale pink or tan colour that looks like skin.

    of a colour, such as beige or tan, intended to match or evoke the appearance of bare skin.

    Example

    She wore a pair of nude heels that matched her skin tone perfectly.

    Example

    The fashion designer's spring collection focused on a palette of nude and earthy tones, aiming for a minimalist and natural aesthetic.
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  1. 3 artistic depiction (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    a painting, photo, or statue of a person who is not wearing clothes.

    a work of art, such as a painting or sculpture, depicting the unclothed human figure.

    Example

    The museum has a famous gallery dedicated to classical nudes.

    Example

    The exhibition traces the evolution of the nude in Western art, from idealised Greek sculptures to the more realistic portrayals of the Renaissance.
  2. 4 the state of nakedness (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the state of being naked.

    the state of total nudity; often used in the phrase 'in the nude'.

    Example

    He prefers to sleep in the nude during the hot summer months.

    Example

    The artist's memoir describes the liberation she felt while living in a community where everyone spent their days in the nude.
  3. 5 legally void (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Technical Law

    not legally valid or having no power.

    lacking legal force or effect; void.

    Example

    The old contract was considered nude because it lacked a proper signature.

    Example

    The judge ruled the agreement was a nude pact, as it lacked the necessary consideration to be enforceable under common law.

    Usage

    Commonly found in the Latin legal phrase 'nudum pactum' (a bare promise).
Origin

Entered English 1493 as a legal term, meaning "unsupported, not formally attested," from Middle English nud, from Latin nūdus (“naked, bare”).

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