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baroque. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
baroque, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
baroque in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
baroque you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
Via French baroque (which originally meant a pearl of irregular shape), from Portuguese barroco (“irregular pearl”); related to Spanish barrueco and Italian barocco, of uncertain ultimate origin, but possibly from Latin verrūca (“wart”). It has been suggested that the term derives from Baroco, a technical term from scholastic logic.
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ɒk
- Rhymes: -əʊk
Adjective
baroque (comparative baroquer, superlative baroquest)
- Ornate, intricate, decorated, laden with detail.
- Complex and beautiful, despite an outward irregularity.
- Chiseled from stone, or shaped from wood, in a garish, crooked, twisted, or slanted sort of way, grotesque.
- Embellished with figures and forms such that every level of relief gives way to more details and contrasts.
- Characteristic of Western art and music of the Early Modern period.
- (figuratively) Overly and needlessly complicated.
grotesquely baroque bureaucratic hassles
baroque bookkeeping in pursuit of tax dodges
Derived terms
Translations
Noun
baroque (plural baroques)
- An ornate, detailed style.
2003, Michael Jacobs, The Road to Santiago, page 103:[…] has semi-circular arches similar to those in Bourges, but pierced by unusual and irregular openings, and ringed with amusing portrait heads such as would not be found in the great Gothic Baroques of France.
Anagrams
French
Etymology
Inherited from Middle French baroque, originally denoting a pearl of irregular shape, from Italian barocco, Spanish barrueco, or Portuguese barroco, all possibly from Latin verrūca (“wart”).
Pronunciation
Adjective
baroque (plural baroques)
- baroque (all senses)
Descendants
Further reading