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Placid

/ˈplæsɪd/

adjectiveB2

Definition

Placid describes something or someone that is very calm and peaceful. It can be used for a quiet lake, a calm person, or a peaceful moment without any problems or noise. It shows a feeling of quietness and no disturbance.

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See It in Action

Calm and peaceful in nature or appearance

  • •The placid lake reflected the blue sky perfectly.
  • •We enjoyed a placid afternoon by the river.
  • •The placid surface of the water made it easy to see the fish below.

Calm and not easily upset or excited (person or mood)

  • •She has a placid personality and rarely gets angry.
  • •Despite the chaos, his placid manner helped calm everyone down.
  • •The dog remained placid even during the loud thunderstorm.

Make It Stick

  • ✓Think of "placid" like "calm" (A1 word), but stronger and more peaceful, like everything is very still and quiet
  • ✓Picture a smooth lake with no waves, shining quietly under the sun
  • ✓It's the feeling you have when you sit alone in a quiet park, away from noise and stress
  • ✓Sounds like "PLAS-id" → imagine a place where people say "please" softly and everything is still
  • ✓Think of a calm character in a story who never gets angry or loud, always peaceful
  • ✓NOT like "busy" (full of action and noise), placid means still and quiet
  • ✓NOT like "happy" (an emotion), placid is about calmness, not excitement or joy
  • ✓NOT like "quiet" (which means no sound), placid adds a feeling of peacefulness beyond just silence

Try Other Words

  • •Peaceful: showing no noise or trouble (Use when focusing on quiet and no problems)
  • •Quiet: making little or no noise (Use when focusing on sound, less on mood)
  • •Serene: very calm and beautiful (Use when describing natural scenes or moods with beauty)
  • •Still: not moving (Use when focusing on lack of movement, often physical)

Unboxing

  • •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; "placid" is a whole word
  • •Etymology: From Latin "placidus," meaning gentle, quiet, or calm
  • •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe gentle and peaceful things
  • •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe calm lakes, quiet people, or peaceful situations
  • •Interesting fact: "Placid" is often used in poetry and literature to create a feeling of peace or quietness

Reflect & Connect

•Can a person be placid in a stressful situation? How would that look?
•How does a placid environment affect your mood or thoughts?

Fill in the blanks

1.The lake was placid because there was no ___ or wind to disturb it.
2.His placid expression showed he was not ___ by the loud noise.
3.Unlike a busy city, the small village felt very placid and ___.
4.She spoke in a placid voice, trying to ___ the angry crowd.
5.The placid water surface ___ the clear blue sky above it.
6.When someone is placid, they usually do not get ___ easily.
7.A placid morning often means a day without ___ or problems.