I. ˈtȯ-drē, ˈtä- adjective
( taw·dri·er ; -est )
Etymology: tawdry lace a tie of lace for the neck, from Saint Audrey (Saint Etheldreda) died 679 queen of Northumbria
Date: 1655
: cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality ; also : ignoble
a tawdry attempt to smear his opponent
Synonyms: see gaudy
• taw·dri·ly -drə-lē adverb
• taw·dri·ness -drē-nəs noun
II. noun
Date: circa 1680
: cheap showy finery