aus ‧ tere /ɔːˈstɪə, ɒ- $ ɒːˈstɪr/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: austerus , from Greek austeros 'severe' ]
1 . plain and simple and without any decoration:
the church’s austere simplicity
2 . someone who is austere is very strict and serious – used to show disapproval:
Her father is a very austere man.
3 . an austere way of life is very simple and has few things to make it comfortable or enjoyable:
Cuthbert led an austere life of prayer and solitude.
—austerely adverb
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THESAURUS
▪ plain without anything added, or without decoration:
a plain shirt
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The fireplace was plain apart from a small design at the top.
▪ simple not having a lot of decoration or unnecessary things, but attractive:
She was wearing a simple black dress.
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The accommodation is simple but clean.
▪ austere very plain and with very little decoration, or very little in it – used about a room or place that does not make you feel welcome:
He dreaded having dinner in that austere dining room.
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The building was grey and a little austere.
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the austere beauty and grandeur of mountain scenery
▪ spartan plain and without anything that would make life easier or more comfortable – used especially about rooms, conditions, or ways of living:
Her apartment is quite spartan.
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They had a very spartan life.
▪ stark very plain in a surprising way, with very little colour or decoration – used about rooms and places:
Sam sat looking at the stark white walls.
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It is a landscape of stark beauty.
▪ bare empty, or not covered by any decorations:
Her office seemed very bare now that her desk had gone.
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He was tired of looking at the bare walls of his prison cell.