Search Result for "motley": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (3)

1. a collection containing a variety of sorts of things;
- Example: "a great assortment of cars was on display"
- Example: "he had a variety of disorders"
- Example: "a veritable smorgasbord of religions"
[syn: assortment, mixture, mixed bag, miscellany, miscellanea, variety, salmagundi, smorgasbord, potpourri, motley]

2. a garment made of motley (especially a court jester's costume);

3. a multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th to 17th century England;


VERB (2)

1. make something more diverse and varied;
- Example: "Vary the menu"
[syn: vary, variegate, motley]

2. make motley; color with different colors;
[syn: motley, parti-color]


ADJECTIVE (2)

1. consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds;
- Example: "an arrangement of assorted spring flowers"
- Example: "assorted sizes"
- Example: "miscellaneous accessories"
- Example: "a mixed program of baroque and contemporary music"
- Example: "a motley crew"
- Example: "sundry sciences commonly known as social"- I.A.Richards
[syn: assorted, miscellaneous, mixed, motley, sundry(a)]

2. having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly;
- Example: "a jester dressed in motley"
- Example: "the painted desert"
- Example: "a particolored dress"
- Example: "a piebald horse"
- Example: "pied daisies"
[syn: motley, calico, multicolor, multi-color, multicolour, multi-colour, multicolored, multi-colored, multicoloured, multi-coloured, painted, particolored, particoloured, piebald, pied, varicolored, varicoloured]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Motley \Mot"ley\, a. [OE. mottelee, motle; cf. OF. mattel['e]
   clotted, curdled, OF, ciel mattonn['e] a mottled sky, mate,
   maton, curdled milk, Prov. G. matte curd. Cf. Mottle.]
   1. Variegated in color; consisting of different colors;
      dappled; party-colored; as, a motley coat.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Wearing motley or party-colored clothing. See Motley,
      n., 1. "A motley fool." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Composed of different or various parts; heterogeneously
      made or mixed up; discordantly composite; as, motley
      style. --Byron.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Motley \Mot"ley\, n.
   1. A combination of distinct colors; esp., the party-colored
      cloth, or clothing, worn by the professional fool.
      --Chaucer. "Motley 's the only wear." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence, a jester, a fool. [Obs.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Man of motley, a fool. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

motley
    adj 1: consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds;
           "an arrangement of assorted spring flowers"; "assorted
           sizes"; "miscellaneous accessories"; "a mixed program of
           baroque and contemporary music"; "a motley crew"; "sundry
           sciences commonly known as social"- I.A.Richards [syn:
           assorted, miscellaneous, mixed, motley,
           sundry(a)]
    2: having sections or patches colored differently and usually
       brightly; "a jester dressed in motley"; "the painted desert";
       "a particolored dress"; "a piebald horse"; "pied daisies"
       [syn: motley, calico, multicolor, multi-color,
       multicolour, multi-colour, multicolored, multi-
       colored, multicoloured, multi-coloured, painted,
       particolored, particoloured, piebald, pied,
       varicolored, varicoloured]
    n 1: a collection containing a variety of sorts of things; "a
         great assortment of cars was on display"; "he had a variety
         of disorders"; "a veritable smorgasbord of religions" [syn:
         assortment, mixture, mixed bag, miscellany,
         miscellanea, variety, salmagundi, smorgasbord,
         potpourri, motley]
    2: a garment made of motley (especially a court jester's
       costume)
    3: a multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th
       to 17th century England
    v 1: make something more diverse and varied; "Vary the menu"
         [syn: vary, variegate, motley]
    2: make motley; color with different colors [syn: motley,
       parti-color]