Limpid
/ˈlɪmpɪd/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Limpid describes something that is perfectly clear, clean, and transparent. It is often used for water that you can see through easily, or for eyes that look bright and clear. It can also describe writing or speech that is easy to understand and free from confusion.
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See It in Action
Very clear and transparent (usually about water or liquids)
- •The limpid stream reflected the blue sky perfectly.
- •She drank from the limpid mountain spring.
- •The fish swam in the limpid water without any disturbance.
Clear and easy to understand (about writing or speech)
- •His limpid explanation made the difficult topic easy to learn.
- •The poem’s limpid style touched everyone’s heart.
- •The limpid prose helped readers enjoy the story without confusion.
Bright and clear (about eyes or look)
- •Her limpid eyes showed kindness and honesty.
- •The child’s limpid gaze was full of wonder.
- •The actor’s limpid expression made the character believable.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "limpid" like "clear" (A1 word), but stronger and more beautiful—like pure water you can see through without any dirt
- ✓Picture a calm mountain lake where you can see the stones at the bottom clearly
- ✓It's the feeling when you look into someone’s bright, clean eyes and feel calm and peaceful
- ✓Sounds like "LIM-pid" → imagine a little "lamp" shining inside, making everything clear and bright
- ✓Think of fairy tale lakes or crystal-clear pools where everything looks perfect and untouched
- ✓NOT like "cloudy" (dirty or hard to see through), "limpid" means completely clear and pure
- ✓NOT like "dark" or "murky," which block your view, limpid lets light and sight pass easily
- ✓NOT just "clear" in a simple way, limpid often suggests beauty and calmness in clarity
Try Other Words
- •Transparent: able to be seen through (Use when focusing on physical clarity, like glass or water)
- •Crystal-clear: very clear and bright (Use for poetic or strong descriptions of something very clean or pure)
- •Pure: free from anything dirty or mixed (Use when emphasizing cleanliness or innocence)
- •Clear: easy to see or understand (Use in everyday speech for general clarity)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: limpid (no clear prefix or suffix, whole word from Latin origin)
- •Etymology: From Latin "limpidus" meaning clear, transparent, or bright
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe clear water or bright eyes
- •Modern usage: Often poetic or literary to describe water, eyes, writing, or anything very clear and calm
- •Interesting fact: Limpid is less common in everyday speech but popular in poetry and descriptive writing
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you saw something limpid in nature? How did it make you feel?
•How can using a word like limpid change the way you describe simple things like water or eyes?
Fill in the blanks
1.The limpid water was so ___ that you could see the fish swimming below the surface.
2.When she spoke, her limpid voice made the difficult ideas ___ to everyone in the room.
3.Unlike muddy or dark ponds, the limpid lake looked ___ and calm.
4.His limpid eyes gave ___ to his honest and gentle personality.
5.The writer’s limpid style helped readers ___ the story without confusion.
6.Limpid water often reflects the sky and trees ___ and clearly.
7.When describing a peaceful scene, using "limpid" instead of "clear" adds a sense of ___ and beauty.