motley meaning and definition

MOTLEY noun

Definition of motley (noun)

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"
   • synonyms: assortment, miscellanea, miscellany, mixed bag, mixture, potpourri, salmagundi, smorgasbord, variety
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

MOTLEY verb

Definition of motley (verb)

1. make something more diverse and varied
   • "Vary the menu"
   • synonyms: variegate, vary
2. make motley; color with different colors
   • synonyms: parti-color

MOTLEY adjective

Definition of motley (adjective)

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
   • synonyms: assorted, miscellaneous, mixed, sundry
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"
   • synonyms: calico, multicolor, multi-color, multicolored, multi-colored, multicolour, multi-colour, multicoloured, multi-coloured, painted, particolored, particoloured, piebald, pied, varicolored, varicoloured