Meaning & use
bonnet
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Meanings
nouncountable
A hat, often tied under the chin, traditionally worn by babies or women.
Grammar: Countable noun; can be used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- wear a bonnet
- a baby's bonnet
The baby looked adorable in a pink bonnet.
In the 19th century, women often wore bonnets to church.
She tied the bonnet securely under her chin.
nouncountableBritish
The hinged cover over the engine of a car, known as the hood in American English.
Grammar: Countable noun; used mainly in British English.
Patterns
- open the bonnet
- under the bonnet
He lifted the bonnet to check the engine.
The mechanic looked under the bonnet for the problem.
In British English, you say 'bonnet' where Americans say 'hood'.
Word forms
| plural | bonnets |
|---|
Common combinations
- baby bonnet
- The baby bonnet was knitted by her grandmother.
- car bonnet
- The car bonnet was damaged in the accident.
- bonnet strings
- She tied the bonnet strings in a bow.
- under the bonnet
- He spent hours working under the bonnet.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- bonneted adjective
- Wearing a bonnet.
Commonly confused: bonnet or bonnie?
bonnet vs bonnie
Means beautiful or attractive; not related to 'bonnet'.
Practice
In British English, what is the 'bonnet' of a car?
Choose one answer.
In British English, 'bonnet' refers to the hood of a car, the cover over the engine. Option 0 is the roof, option 1 is the trunk (called 'boot' in British English), and option 3 is a tire (spelled 'tyre' in British English).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bonnet”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.