heartthrob
UK[ˈhɑːtθrɒb]US[ˈhɑːrtθrɑːb]
n
A man, especially a celebrity, who is considered very physically attractive and causes feelings of romantic excitement in his admirers.
n
A person for whom one feels strong romantic infatuation.
Morpheme Breakdown
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Etymology
The word 'heartthrob' is a vivid compound formed from two native English elements. 'Heart', with its ancient Indo-European root, has long symbolized the seat of emotions, particularly love and affection. 'Throb', an onomatopoeic term, imitates the sound or sensation of a strong, rhythmic pulse. When combined in the early 20th century, the term literally meant "a heartbeat," specifically one caused by excitement. This concrete physiological metaphor evolved into its modern abstract meaning, referring to a person who figuratively causes one's heart to beat faster with romantic attraction, effectively embodying the object of such ardent, pulse-quickening admiration.
Analysis
Structure: heart + throb
- heart: From Old English heorte, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hart and German Herz, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin cor, cord- and Greek kēr, kardia. Functions as the core noun denoting the emotional center.
- throb: From Middle English throbben, likely of imitative origin, suggesting a repetitive, pulsing sound or movement. Functions as a verb root here, nominalized to mean a pulsation or beat.
Examples
The young actor became an international heartthrob after starring in the blockbuster film.
In her teenage diary, she wrote about the latest pop star who was her heartthrob.
The magazine's cover featured a story about the heartthrobs of the 1990s.