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# boyish

adjective (boyish, more boyish, most boyish)

«boyish» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Like a boy, or looking or behaving like a boy: «a boyish grin». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/#m1)
2. Young-looking and full of fun, said about a grown man: «He has a boyish face.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/#m2)

### In the lessons

In The Wind in the Willows Toad's boyish excitement about new crazes makes him fun and foolish. In stories a «boyish grin» shows a cheeky, happy look. It can also describe a girl's short haircut or style («a boyish haircut»).

### Examples

- Grandad still has a boyish grin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/#x1)
- The teacher's boyish face made him look very young. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/#x2)
- Toad clapped his hands with boyish excitement. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/#x3)
- She had a short, boyish haircut. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/#x4)
- His boyish enthusiasm for trains never faded. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/#x5)
- The coach laughed with boyish delight when they won. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/#x6)

### Note

From «boy» + «-ish». Same pattern: girlish, childish. Do not confuse with «childish», which is usually a criticism (silly).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «boyish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boyish/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«boyish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/boyish.html) on Mova free.