/ Dictionary / Index A austere: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: aus•tere Pronunciation: (ô-stēr'), [key] — adj. severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding: an austere teacher. rigorously self-disciplined and severely moral; ascetic; abstinent: the austere quality of life in the convent. grave; sober; solemn; serious: an austere manner. without excess, luxury, or ease; simple; limited; severe: an austere life. severely simple; without ornament: austere writing. lacking softness; hard: an austere bed of straw. rough to the taste; sour or harsh in flavor. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: austere (Thesaurus) Auster austerity Related Content Daily Word Quiz: eccentric Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language