gau ‧ dy /ˈɡɔːdi $ ˈɡɒːdi/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: gaud 'bright decorative object' (14-19 centuries) , probably from Old French gaudir 'to enjoy' ]
clothes, colours etc that are gaudy are too bright and look cheap – used to show disapproval:
gaudy jewelry
—gaudily adverb
—gaudiness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
■ bright colours
▪ bright used about a colour that is strong and easy to see:
The front door was painted bright red.
▪ brilliant/vivid used about a colour that is very bright:
I looked out at the brilliant blue sky.
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vivid red flowers
▪ colourful British English , colorful American English used about things that have many different bright colours:
There were window boxes full of colourful flowers.
▪ multicoloured British English , multicolored American English used about things that have a pattern of many different bright colours:
A multicoloured flag waved in the midday sun.
▪ gaudy/garish too brightly coloured, in a way that is unattractive:
The wallpaper was much too gaudy for me.
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a garish orange tie