Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 17 down vote favorite

Is there a word to describe an object that excels in form and function? I am trying to avoid very general words like great, superb or excellent.

share|improve this question
2  
"It is truly useful since it is beautiful." -- The Little Prince – AlbeyAmakiir Jul 27 '12 at 6:23
@AlbeyAmakiir I love that reference. Am I correct in thinking it implies that anything that is beautiful is intrinsically useful? – LordScree Jul 27 '12 at 9:34
Is there a reason why you need a single word, and not a phrase? Can you provide more context? – KitFox♦ Jul 27 '12 at 11:18
Can you tell us more about this 'object' of yours? – 5arx Jul 27 '12 at 13:18
@LordScree: I seem to remember some argument, I think from a pop science magazine, that the perception of beauty is an evolved response to usefulness, which makes some sense - that we would be attracted to things that are good for us. Of course, evolution only works in a specific environment, and traits like this can be tricked. – naught101 Jul 28 '12 at 11:29
show 2 more comments

10 Answers

up vote 57 down vote accepted

Could it be described as an elegant solution or an engineering marvel?

share|improve this answer
14  
+1, I particularly like elegant – Cameron Jul 27 '12 at 2:05
2  
Elegant could be tough to top; my online thesaurus lists stylish, graceful, and aestetic, but also effective, ingenious, and inventive. – J.R. Jul 27 '12 at 4:08
8  
+1 Elegant is widespread in math and computing. catb.org/jargon/html/E/elegant.html – György Andrasek Jul 27 '12 at 8:18
up vote 8 down vote

Something that is well-designed is intentionally planned and created so that it is both useful and appealing (sometimes beautiful).

Here are some examples in which it is used:

Well-designed logos

Well-designed products

Well-designed gardens

Well-designed websites

Well-designed rooms

share|improve this answer
Doesn't work for evolved things though - like hands. – naught101 Jul 28 '12 at 11:30
@naught, But it can. As an example, from an article on pandas: "Their hand is not well designed but it works effectively based on what was available." – JLG Jul 28 '12 at 14:46
up vote 5 down vote

The context is unclear, but I suppose the word something refers to an actual object.

I'd suggest the adjective "streamlined."

It's defined as:

  • Designed or arranged to offer the least resistance to fluid flow; reduced to essentials
  • Having flowing, graceful lines; sleek
  • Improved in appearance or efficiency; modernized

For me, this word encompasses beauty in both form and function.

share|improve this answer
1  
Seems very centred around engineering of vehicles and doesn't lend itself well to other concepts. My new Gaggia coffee machine is not streamlined. – 5arx Jul 27 '12 at 12:12
Yes, I think so too. But beauty of form and function? – Cool Elf Jul 27 '12 at 13:01
For me it has to be @cornbread ninja's 'elegant'. Its a word that is also used generically in engineering disciplines. e.g. elegant design, elegant software/code or an elegant solution. Another word, though it suggests something is well-suited to its purpose might be 'apt'. Or 'ideal'? – 5arx Jul 27 '12 at 13:11
Well, it depends so much on the context. Why don't you ask the OP to give more? – Cool Elf Jul 27 '12 at 13:17
up vote 1 down vote

I suggest calling it the acme ("The top or highest point; pinnacle; culmination") or the pinnacle ("The highest point"; "An all-time high; a point of greatest achievement or success") of perfection. Also consider terms like standout ("An exceptional or noteworthy person or thing"), superlative ("The highest extent or degree of something"; "An adjective used to praise something exceptional"), crème de la crème ("Best of the best; something superlative; the very best"), or ace ("Used as an exclamation to mean excellent").

Note a problem with some earlier suggestions: the terms elegant, well-designed, streamlined are sometimes used of items that have excellent form but fall down on function. But careful speakers might use the first two of those terms only of items that exhibit excellence in both form and function.

share|improve this answer
Having watched Wiley E Coyote get blown up/crunched into an accordion/etc thousands of times as a kid, quality is never the first thing that comes to mind when I see the word "acme". I doubt many people even know the work has another meaning any longer. – Dan Neely Jul 27 '12 at 14:45
Even if the terms "elegant, well-designed" do connote items that "fall down on function" (with which I disagree), "acme, standout" and your other examples don't particularly suggest form and function. The OP specifically asked for words that are not general. – dj18 Jul 27 '12 at 14:50
up vote 1 down vote

I suggest the adjective "perfect". Not only does it communicate the notion that the object embodies the characteristics of consummate beauty and utility, but that by any other measure or characteristic that is appreciated, the object is...dare I say it, perfect.

share|improve this answer
"Perfect" sounds just as general as "great" or "superb." Yes, it does mean "great in every way," but it doesn't specify "form and function." – dj18 Jul 27 '12 at 14:45
up vote 1 down vote

Gestalt? It is oft used in design circles I believe. It refers to wholeness in design with form and function firmly in mind. The most positive qualities of those individual parts making up the wholeness is presumed. It wouldn't make sense for such a word to refer to the ugly bits making up a wholesome object. One of those aesthetic form qualities could be the adjective beautiful.

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

I think neat could work as well.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

Exquisite, polished or "exquisitely polished".

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

Amazing, exquisite, marvy, simple, outstanding, fine, neat, inventive

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

The best answer that comes to my mind is the word nifty.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.