Meaning & use
aquiline nose
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Meaning
nouncountableformalliterary
A nose with a high bridge that curves slightly downward, like an eagle's beak.
Grammar: Countable: you can say an aquiline nose or aquiline noses.
Patterns
- have an aquiline nose
- with an aquiline nose
- a slightly aquiline nose
The portrait shows a man with a long aquiline nose and deep-set eyes.
She has an aquiline nose that gives her face a strong, classical look.
In the old photographs, his aquiline nose made him look distinguished.
Word forms
| plural | aquiline noses |
|---|
Common combinations
- a prominent aquiline nose
- The actor is known for his prominent aquiline nose.
- a slightly aquiline nose
- Her profile is gentle, with a slightly aquiline nose.
- a long aquiline nose
- He had a long aquiline nose and a thin face.
- a classic aquiline nose
- The statue's classic aquiline nose is typical of ancient Roman art.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Roman nose
- Roman nose is a more everyday term for a nose with a high, curved bridge; aquiline nose is more literary and often suggests an eagle-like shape.
- hooked nose
- Hooked nose is a plainer, sometimes less flattering description of a nose that curves downward; aquiline nose is neutral or approving.
Opposites
Word family
- aquiline adjective
- Curved like an eagle's beak; used mainly of noses.
Commonly confused: aquiline nose or equine?
aquiline nose vs equine
Equine means relating to horses, while aquiline means relating to eagles or eagle-like. They sound similar but describe very different things.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'aquiline nose' correctly?
Choose one answer.
An aquiline nose has a high bridge that curves downward, like an eagle's beak. A small, turned-up nose is a snub nose, not an aquiline one; redness or a broken nose describes a condition, not a shape.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aquiline nose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.