vivid
Definitions
Producing strong, clear images in the mind; lifelike and intense
生动的；逼真的；清晰强烈的
(of color or light) very bright and strong
（色彩、光）鲜艳的，明亮的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedviv (vīvere, 'live') + -id (adj. 'having the quality of') = 'full of life.' From Latin vīvidus, 'spirited, animated.' A vivid memory or a vivid red is so intense it seems alive — as if it could leap off the page or move on its own.
Root viv still carries 48 more wordsWhy It Means This
The whole power of vivid is a single metaphor: something that has no life of its own is made to feel alive. A description so clear you can 'see' it, a dream so sharp it feels real, a color so bright it almost vibrates. That's why vivid pairs naturally with memory, imagination, dream, description, and color — anything that can be brought to life in the mind.
Example Sentences
- 1.
I still have a vivid memory of my first day at school.
- 2.
The painting was full of vivid blues and greens.
- 3.
She gave a vivid description of life in the village.
Easily Confused
vivid vs bright — bright is mostly about light intensity (a bright lamp, a bright room). vivid adds liveliness and saturation (a vivid red is rich and striking, not just lit up). You can have a bright but dull color; a vivid color always has life in it.