noun / adjective
boutique
boo-TEEK/buːˈtiːk/
A small, specialized, often upscale shop or business.
The small boutique sells handmade dresses from a few local designers.
Etymology
The storehouse meaning developed into a place selling goods: initially a small shop of any sort. The modern fashion sense narrows that general shop meaning to a particular kind of retailer.
In context
start a small uh retail business a boutique selling shoes or or hats or briefcases
More examples
- They hired a boutique law firm specializing in patents.
- She browsed the jewelry boutique beside the cafe.
- The boutique hotel has only twelve rooms.
Forms
boutique · boutiques
Similar words
- store
- Store is a broad term; boutique suggests a small specialized business, often upscale.