1. 朴素的；简陋的；无修饰的　simple and plain; without any decorations
2. （人）严肃的；严厉的　strict and serious in appearance and behaviour
3. 苦行的；禁欲的　allowing nothing that gives pleasure; not comfortable

　～ demeanour　严苛的态度
　～ economic policies　紧缩的经济政策
　～ fanatics　狂热的禁欲主义者
　～ look　严峻的表情
　～ manner　严厉的态度
　～ measures　节俭措施
　～ schoolmaster　严厉的中（小）学校长

　It is an austere statue.　这是一座无装饰的雕像。
　He was a man of austere habits.　他是个习惯简朴的人。
　She has an austere elegance in he plain grey and black clothes.　身着灰黑色的朴素衣服，她显得庄重而典雅。
　The room was furnished in austere style.　这间屋子的陈设朴实无华。
　The tall, plain columns stood against the sky in austere beauty.　那一根根高大、朴素的柱子矗立在苍穹下显示出一种质朴美。
　The courtroom was a large dark chamber, an austere place.　审判室是间大而阴暗的房屋，一个气氛森严的地方。
　An austere, silent woman showed him round the small flat.　一个严肃沉默的妇女带他看了看这套小公寓。
　He permitted himself an austere smile.　他仅仅露出一丝严肃的微笑。
　She was an austere religious woman of Spanish origins.　她是个严守教规、祖籍西班牙的妇女。
　My father was a distant, austere man.　我父亲是个难以接近的严肃的人。
　She accomplished the holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony.　她装出一副极其圣洁和严肃不苟的样子做完了圣事。
　I had an austere childhood because it was during the war and there were no luxuries then.　我的童年时代很艰苦，因为那是战时，也没有任何奢侈品。
　The monks led an austere life in the mountains.　修道士在深山里过着苦修生活。
　The church is large and austere.　这座教堂规模很大但朴实无华。
　The room with its white walls was bare, austere and beautiful.　这个房间四壁洁白，空无一物，朴实而美观。
　The climate there is austere, with an average temperature round the year of under-20℃.　那里气候严寒，终年平均温度在零下20摄氏度以下。
　His way of life is remarkably austere and controlled.　他的生活总是过得十分清苦，很有节制。

　［派生词］ austerely adv.朴素地；严厉地；苦行地‖austerity n.（经济的）紧缩，严格控制消费