motley
gb/mˈɑtli/ us/mˈɑtli/
C1
English
vegyes, tarka, bolondruha, egyveleg
C1
1
Usage pattern:
[a/the] motley [group/collection/crew] (of [people/things])
The committee was a motley group of teachers, parents, and local business owners.
A bizottság tanárokból, szülőkből és helyi vállalkozókból álló vegyes társaság volt.
A motley assortment of chairs surrounded the table, none of them matching.
Az asztal körül mindenféle, egymáshoz nem illő szék állt.
They formed a motley band of travelers, each with a different reason for leaving home.
Learner examples
We are a motley group of friends.
Mi egy nagyon vegyes baráti társaság vagyunk.
The box contained a motley mix of old tools.
A doboz tele volt mindenféle régi szerszámmal.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse motley (mixed variety) with mottled (marked with spots or patches).
Meaning
made of many different kinds
Collocations
a motley crew
|a motley group
|a motley bunch
|a motley assortment
|a motley collection
|a motley mix
|a motley array
|a motley crowd
|a motley selection
|a motley band
Synonyms
mixed (general and neutral; less vivid than motley.)
|
diverse (often more positive and less ‘oddly matched’ than motley.)
|
eclectic (suggests variety chosen from many sources, often intentionally.)
|
ragtag (more negative; suggests a disorganized, scruffy group.)
|
heterogeneous (more formal and technical-sounding.)
Antonyms
uniform (all the same type, with little variation.)
|
homogeneous (made of similar parts; not mixed.)
Themes
people
|society
|describing_things
Definition
made of many different kinds of people or things
Consisting of many different and often contrasting types of people or things, especially in a way that seems irregular or oddly matched.
C1
2
tarka
B1
Usage pattern:
motley [clothing/feathers/pattern]
She wore a motley scarf with red, blue, and gold threads.
Piros, kék és arany szálakkal átszőtt tarka sálat viselt.
The bird’s motley feathers helped it blend into the forest floor.
A madár tarka tollazata segítette, hogy beleolvadjon az erdő avarába.
A motley patchwork quilt covered the bed.
Learner examples
He has a motley jacket with many colors.
Sokszínű, tarka kabátja van.
Common mistake:
Motley can mean ‘many colors’ or ‘many different kinds’; use context to choose the right sense.
Meaning
having many different colors
Collocations
motley clothing
|motley costume
|motley feathers
|motley pattern
|motley fabric
|motley dress
|motley coat
Synonyms
multicolored (direct and neutral; less literary.)
|
variegated (more formal; often used for plants or patterns.)
|
colorful (broader; can also mean ‘interesting’ or ‘vivid’.)
Antonyms
monochrome (having only one color or shades of one color.)
|
plain (simple in appearance; without varied colors.)
Themes
clothing
|describing_things
|arts
Definition
with many different colors
Having a mixture of different colors; multicolored.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
3
bolondruha
C1
Usage pattern:
wear motley; (be) dressed/clad in motley
The actor appeared in motley, playing the king’s fool.
A színész bolondruhában jelent meg, a király bolondját játszva.
In the painting, the jester stands beside the throne in bright motley.
A festményen az udvari bolond élénk színű bolondruhában áll a trón mellett.
He was clad in motley and rang a bell to announce the show.
Common mistake:
In this sense, motley is a noun meaning a specific kind of costume, not just ‘mixed’.
Meaning
a jester’s multicolored outfit
Collocations
wear motley
|clad in motley
|dressed in motley
|jester's motley
Synonyms
jester's costume (more explicit; not a single-word equivalent.)
Themes
history
|clothing
|arts
Definition
the colorful clothes of a jester
The traditional multicolored clothing worn by a jester or fool, especially in historical contexts.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
4
egyveleg
C1
Usage pattern:
a motley of [things/people]
The novel presents a motley of characters drawn from every corner of the city.
A regény a város minden szegletéből származó alakok egyvelegét tárja elénk.
Her speech was a motley of quotations and personal stories.
A beszéde idézetek és személyes történetek egyvelege volt.
The room held a motley of antiques collected over decades.
Common mistake:
This noun use is rare; in modern English, motley is much more common as an adjective (e.g., a motley group).
Meaning
a varied mixture of things
Collocations
a motley of voices
|a motley of ideas
|a motley of characters
Synonyms
medley (commoner as a noun; can suggest a pleasing mix.)
|
mixture (neutral and very common; less expressive.)
Antonyms
uniformity (the state of being the same throughout.)
Themes
describing_things
|language
Definition
a mix of different things (not common)
A mixture or medley of different kinds of things, especially when they seem mismatched (now uncommon).
Grammar
Dictionary form
motley
IPA
GB/mˈɑtli/
US/mˈɑtli/
Syllables & stress
mot - ley (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mot)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: motley
Noun
- Base: motley
- Plural: motley
Expressions
motley crew
1/mˈɑtli kɹˈu/
fixed phrase
an oddly mixed group
a group of very different people
Examples
- A motley crew of volunteers showed up to help clean the park.
- The film follows a motley crew of strangers forced to work together.
- By midnight, a motley crew had gathered in the kitchen, telling stories and laughing.
Learner examples
- We were a motley crew, but we worked well together.