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- Dictionarymotley/ˈmɒtli/
adjective
- 1. incongruously varied in appearance or character; disparate: "a motley crew of discontents and zealots" Similar Opposite
- 2. (of clothing) made up of a variety of colours: archaic "they wore the motley coat of jesters" Similar Opposite
noun
- 1. an incongruous mixture: "a motley of interacting interest groups"
- 2. the multicoloured costume of a jester: historical "life-size mannequins in full motley"
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MOTLEY definition: 1. consisting of many different types that do not appear to go together: 2. consisting of many…. Learn more.
: a woolen fabric of mixed colors made in England between the 14th and 17th centuries. : jester, fool. : a mixture especially of incongruous elements. In the gut’s lining resides a virtual embassy of immune cells that remain in an ever-vigilant state surveying the motley stream of microbial and nutritional antigens passing through your gut.
MOTLEY meaning: 1. consisting of many different types that do not appear to go together: 2. consisting of many…. Learn more.
In contemporary usage, motley can be used in virtually any context as a synonym for mismatched, heterogeneous, or ragtag. But the word was first used to describe multicolored fabric, especially the type of material used in a jester's costume.
consisting of many different types of people or things that do not seem to belong together. She had a motley group of friends at college. The room was filled with a motley collection of furniture and paintings. The audience was a motley crew of students and tourists. Want to learn more?
5 meanings: 1. made up of elements of varying type, quality, etc 2. multicoloured 3. a motley collection or mixture 4. the.... Click for more definitions.
Motley definition: exhibiting great diversity of elements. See examples of MOTLEY used in a sentence.
There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word motley, six of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. How common is the word motley? How is the word motley pronounced? Where does the word motley come from?
Motley definition: Having elements of great variety or incongruity; heterogeneous.
mot•ley (mot′ lē), adj., n., pl. -leys. heterogeneous: a motley crowd. parti-colored: a motley flower border. wearing a parti-colored garment: a motley fool. n. a combination of different colors. a parti-colored effect. the parti-colored garment of a jester. a heterogeneous assemblage. a medley. 1. . varied, mixed, incongruous.
