folly

Definition of folly in English English dictionary: foolishness
This is a war of folly.; a fanciful building built for purely ornamental reasons
A luncheonette in the shape of a coffee cup is particularly conspicuous, as is intended of an architectural duck or folly.; thoughtless action resulting in tragic consequence
The purchase of Alaska from Russia was termed Seward's folly.; {n} a want of understanding, imprudence; Scandalous crime; sin; specifically, as applied to a woman, wantonness; A foolish act; an inconsiderate or thoughtless procedure; weak or light-minded conduct; foolery; If you say that a particular action or way of behaving is folly or a folly, you mean that it is foolish. It's sheer folly to build nuclear power stations in a country that has dozens of earthquakes every year; A folly is a small tower or other unusual building that is built as a decoration in a large garden or park, especially in Britain in former times. In architecture, an eccentric, generally nonfunctional (and often deliberately unfinished) structure erected to enhance a romantic landscape. Follies were particularly in vogue in England in the 18th and early 19th century. They might resemble medieval towers, ruined castles overgrown with vines, or crumbling Classical temples complete with fallen, eroded columns. In the U.S., the term has been applied to ornate gazebos. It may also be applied to any unusual building that is extravagant or whimsical in style; {i} stupidity, foolishness; nonsense, foolish action; The result of a foolish action or enterprise; foolish or senseless behavior; the trait of acting stupidly or rashly; the quality of being rash and foolish; a stupid mistake; foolish or senseless behavior the trait of acting stupidly or rashly the quality of being rash and foolish; The state of being foolish; want of good sense; levity, weakness, or derangement of mind; foolery; sottery
as a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly: foolish people repeatedly do foolish things
follies: plural form of folly
follies: A lavishly-produced theatrical revue characterized by major stars, huge casts, and opulent costumes and scenery
The most famous Broadway theatrical revues of all time were the Ziegfeld Follies.
act of folly: foolish action
follies: plural of folly
follies: a revue with elaborate costuming
follies: {i} entertaining theatrical presentation
seward's folly: the transaction in 1867 in which the United States secretary of state William Henry Seward purchased Alaska from Russia