bikini
bih-KEE-nee
Bikini (noun) means a minimal two-piece swimsuit that leaves the midriff bare. Example: “She packed three bikinis for the beach trip.”
noun
1
A minimal two-piece swimsuit that leaves the midriff bare.
"She packed three bikinis for the beach trip."
"She wore a yellow bikini and sat beside the pool."
"The shop sells a bikini in almost every size."
2
Brief underwear or bottoms cut low at the hip with high leg openings.
"He prefers bikini briefs over boxers."
"Bikini underwear is comfortable beneath tight trousers."
"She prefers a cotton bikini cut for exercise."
How to use bikini
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA two-piece swimsuit, or underwear cut in a similar minimal style.
Common pairings
bikini top
bikini bottom
wear a bikini
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Word forms
- Plural
- bikinis
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She packed three _____ for the beach trip.
Etymology
Named after Bikini Atoll, where the US tested nuclear weapons in 1946 — the swimsuit's designer reportedly hoped it would cause a similar sensation.
Synonyms
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two-piece
Related words
Rhymes for bikini
See all rhymes for bikini →Frequently asked questions
What does “bikini” mean?
The word “bikini” means a minimal two-piece swimsuit that leaves the midriff bare. In plain terms, a two-piece swimsuit, or underwear cut in a similar minimal style.
How do you pronounce “bikini”?
“Bikini” is pronounced bih-KEE-nee (/bɪˈki.ni/ in IPA).
How do you use “bikini” in a sentence?
Here is “bikini” used in a sentence: “She packed three bikinis for the beach trip.”
What part of speech is “bikini”?
“Bikini” is a noun.
Where does the word “bikini” come from?
The word “bikini” dates back to around 1946. Named after Bikini Atoll, where the US tested nuclear weapons in 1946 — the swimsuit's designer reportedly hoped it would cause a similar sensation.
Is “bikini” a common word?
“Bikini” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “bikini” have?
“Bikini” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a minimal two-piece swimsuit that leaves the midriff bare.
What is the difference between a bikini and a swimsuit?
A bikini is a specific type of swimsuit made of two separate pieces that leaves the midriff bare, while swimsuit is a general term covering any garment worn for swimming, including one-piece styles. Every bikini is a swimsuit, but not every swimsuit is a bikini.
What is the difference between a bikini and a bikini bottom?
Bikini can refer to the full two-piece swimsuit, while bikini bottom refers specifically to the lower half, cut low at the hip with high leg openings. The term bikini is also used on its own for brief underwear styled similarly to a swimsuit bottom.
Does the word bikini always refer to swimwear?
No, bikini also describes a style of underwear that is brief and cut low at the hip with high leg openings, separate from its use as a swimsuit term. Context usually makes clear which meaning is intended.
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