[mer.e.tri.cious] adj [L meretricius, fr. meretric-, meretrix prostitute, fr. merere to earn--more at merit] (ca. 1626) 1: of or relating to a prostitute: having the nature of prostitution "~ relationship"
2. a: tawdrily and falsely attractive "the paradise they found was a piece of ~ trash --Carolyn See" b: superficially significant: pretentious "scholarly names to provide fig-leaves of respectability for ~ but stylish books --Times Lit. Supp." syn see gaudy -- mer.e.tri.cious.ly adv -- mer.e.tri.cious.ness n