bangles

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Rigid rings of metal, wood, plastic, or glass worn around the wrist or arm as jewelry.

   Grammar: Plural noun; the singular form is 'bangle'. Used with plural verbs: 'The bangles are beautiful.'

   Patterns

   • wear bangles
   • a set of bangles
   • gold bangles
   • bangles on her wrist

   She stacked silver bangles on both arms before the party.

   In many South Asian weddings, the bride wears dozens of colorful bangles.

   He bought a set of wooden bangles at the craft market.

2. 2nouncountable

   A stiff bracelet of this kind, especially one worn in South Asian traditional dress.

   Grammar: Countable when referring to one item or one type; the usual everyday plural is 'bangles'.

   Patterns

   • a pair of bangles
   • traditional bangles
   • glass bangles

   Her grandmother gave her a pair of glass bangles.

   The dancers' bangles jingled as they moved.

Word forms

Common combinations

wear bangles

She likes to wear bangles with long sleeves.

a set of bangles

He gave her a set of bangles for her birthday.

gold bangles

The gold bangles shone in the sunlight.

glass bangles

Glass bangles are delicate and break easily.

stack bangles

Fashion models often stack bangles on one arm.

Synonyms and how they differ

bracelet

A general word for any wrist ornament, including flexible chains; 'bangles' are specifically stiff rings.

armlet

Worn higher on the arm rather than at the wrist, and much less common in everyday speech.

Word family

bangle noun

One rigid ring worn on the wrist or arm.

Commonly confused: bangles or bangle? bangles or bangle (verb)?

Practice

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