noun
Xanadu
ZA-nuh-doo
Xanadu (noun) means an imagined place of exceptional beauty, luxury, and wonder. Example: “The resort felt like a private Xanadu, all white sand and quiet luxury.”
noun
1
An imagined place of exceptional beauty, luxury, and wonder.
"The resort felt like a private Xanadu, all white sand and quiet luxury."
"I never guessed that when I stumbled into the sheriff's office on a warm August afternoon, I'd met my future. I'd had no dream of finding my own little Eden, my snowcapped paradise, my Xanadu in the Valley of the Sky."
— Mary Daheim, The Alpine Xanadu (2013)
2
A lavish building or estate built purely for entertainment or luxurious living.
"The billionaire's mansion was a modern Xanadu, complete with its own cinema and zoo."
"Under the blazing Nevada sun, a dozen Xanadus glittered with million-watt neon signs."
— Mario Puzo, Fools Die (2012)
How to use Xanadu
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dreamlike, magnificent place — real or imagined — associated with luxury and wonder.
Common pairings
a private Xanadu
like a Xanadu
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Word forms
- Plural
- Xanadus
Fill the gap
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The resort felt like a private _____, all white sand and quiet luxury.
Etymology
From the real Xanadu, the Yuan dynasty's summer capital in Mongolia, romanized via Marco Polo's travels; the word became a byword for splendor after Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1797 poem "Kubla Khan" ("In Xanadu did Kubla Khan / A stately pleasure-dome decree").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Xanadu” mean?
The word “Xanadu” means an imagined place of exceptional beauty, luxury, and wonder. In plain terms, a dreamlike, magnificent place — real or imagined — associated with luxury and wonder.
How do you pronounce “Xanadu”?
“Xanadu” is pronounced ZA-nuh-doo (/ˈzænəduː/ in IPA).
How do you use “Xanadu” in a sentence?
Here is “Xanadu” used in a sentence: “The resort felt like a private Xanadu, all white sand and quiet luxury.”
What part of speech is “Xanadu”?
“Xanadu” is a noun.
Where does the word “Xanadu” come from?
The word “Xanadu” dates back to around 1797.
How many meanings does “Xanadu” have?
“Xanadu” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an imagined place of exceptional beauty, luxury, and wonder.
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