Reading Theme:
Romance: Definition, Usage & Common Examples (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：romantic feeling (romance)
romance
/ˈroʊmæns/
n.
An exciting and mysterious feeling that is often connected to love, like the special mood during a candlelit dinner or a surprise date.
romantic feeling
➕
/roʊˈmæntɪk ˈfilɪŋ/
n.
An atmosphere or feeling characterized by excitement, mystery, and emotional connection, often associated with love and idealized experiences.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'Romanice', meaning 'in the Roman manner/language', referring to vernacular stories.
💡 Mnemonic
ROMance reminds you of ROME - think of stories told in the language of ROME's descendants, filled with love and adventure.
📖 Example
The candlelit dinner and soft music added a touch of romance to their anniversary evening.
A romantic atmosphere was created for their anniversary by the candlelit dinner and soft music.
🔗 Collocations
add romance to – To enhance a situation with a romantic feeling.
full of romance – Abundant with romantic atmosphere or feeling.
spark of romance – A sudden beginning of a romantic feeling.
🔄 Synonyms
intimacy (n.) – A close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship.
passion (n.) – Strong and barely controllable emotion, which can include romantic love.
enchantment (n.) – A feeling of great pleasure or delight, often with a magical or charming quality.
🚫 Antonyms
indifference (n.) – Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy; emotional detachment.
realism (n.) – An attitude of accepting a situation as it is and dealing with it practically, rather than idealizing it.
🌱 Derivatives
romantic (adj.) – Characterized by or suggestive of an idealized view of reality, especially love.
romanticize (v.) – To make something seem better or more appealing than it really is.
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'romance' originally described popular stories written in Romance languages (like Old French) as opposed to Latin. These tales often featured chivalric adventures and idealized love, eventually giving the word its modern meanings of love and adventure.
Meaning 2：love story (romance)
romance
/ˈroʊmæns/
n.
A story, book, or movie whose main plot is about love, often with beautiful and happy events.
love story
➕
/lʌv ˈstɔːri/
n.
A narrative genre in literature or film where the central plot focuses on a romantic relationship, typically culminating in a positive emotional resolution.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
She prefers to watch a feel-good romance after a long week of work.
To relax after work, she enjoys watching a movie centered on a love story.
🔗 Collocations
historical romance – A love story set in a specific period of history.
romance novel – A book whose primary focus is on the development of a romantic relationship.
a classic romance – A famous and enduring love story.
🔄 Synonyms
love story (n.) – A narrative about the romantic relationship between two people.
fairytale (n.) – A story involving magical forces and creatures, often with a romantic plot and happy ending.
chick flick (n.) – A film genre designed to appeal to a female audience, often featuring a romantic plot.
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
romantic (adj.) – Of, characterized by, or suggestive of an idealized view of reality, especially love.
romanticist (n.) – A writer or artist of the Romantic movement, or a person who romanticizes.
Meaning 3：love affair (romance)
romance
/ˈroʊmæns/
n.
A romantic relationship or love affair between two people.
love affair
➕
/lʌv əˈfeər/
n.
A romantic and often emotionally intimate relationship or liaison between two people.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
They kept their office romance a secret until the company party.
They hid their workplace love affair from their colleagues for a long time.
🔗 Collocations
office romance – A romantic relationship between colleagues at work.
summer romance – A short-lived romantic relationship during a summer vacation.
whirlwind romance – A romance that develops very quickly and intensely.
🔄 Synonyms
relationship (n.) – The way in which two people are connected, especially in a romantic context.
affair (n.) – A romantic or sexual relationship, sometimes secret.
liaison (n.) – A secret or illicit romantic or sexual relationship.
🚫 Antonyms
enmity (n.) – The state of being actively opposed or hostile to someone.
separation (n.) – The action of moving or being moved apart, especially in a relationship.
🌱 Derivatives
romantic (adj.) – Characterized by or suggestive of an idealized view of reality, especially love.
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