Art & Music

bourdon C2

/ˈbʊɹdən/ a continuous low drone or bass tone, especially one produced by a bagpipe, hurdy-gurdy, or similar instrument M S

statuary C2

/ˈstæ.t͡ʃu.ɛəɹi/ statues considered collectively M S

sartorial C2

/sɑɹˈtɔɹ.i.əl/ Of or relating to the tailoring of clothing. M S

fleur-de-lis C2

/ˌflɝː.dəˈliː/ a stylized three-petalled flower used as a heraldic charge and decorative emblem, especially associated with the French monarchy M S

quatrain C2

/ˈkwɑˌtreɪn/ a stanza or complete poem consisting of four lines M S

cubist C2

/ˈkjuː.bɪst/ an artist who works in the style of cubism M S

pianola C2

/ˌpiːəˈnoʊlə/ a piano that plays music mechanically from instructions recorded on a perforated paper roll M S

oscillate C2

/ˈɑsɪleɪt/ To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm. M S

incise C2

/ɪnˈsaɪz/ To cut into a surface with a sharp tool, especially to carve or engrave a design. M S

basso C2

/ˈbæsoʊ/ low and deep in pitch, especially of a male voice M S

chromatic C2

/kɹəˈmætɪk/ relating to color or to differences in color M S

rub-a-dub C2

/ˌrʌb ə ˈdʌb/ the repeated beating or sound of a drum; a continuous rhythmic drumming M S

hornpipe C2

/ˈhɔrnˌpaɪp/ a lively traditional solo dance associated especially with sailors M S

arpeggio C2

/ɑːrˈpedʒ.i.oʊ/ the notes of a chord played one after another rather than simultaneously M S

oratorio C2

/ˌɔrəˈtɔrioʊ/ a large musical work for orchestra, choir, and solo voices, usually on a sacred subject and performed without staging, costumes, or scenery M S

rapprochement C2

/ɹæpɹoʊʃˈmɑn/ The reestablishment of cordial relations, particularly between two countries; a reconciliation. M S

dulcimer C2

/ˈdʌl.sɪ.mɚ/ a stringed instrument with strings stretched over a usually trapezoidal soundboard and struck with small hammers M S

viol C2

/ˈvaɪ.əl/ a member of a family of fretted bowed string instruments, usually with six strings and held vertically, prominent in European music from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries M S

stipple C2

/ˈstɪpəl/ to draw, paint, engrave, or shade using many small dots or short marks M S

odalisque C2

/ˈoʊdəlɪsk/ historical: an enslaved female attendant in an Ottoman palace or harem; in Western writing, often inaccurately treated as a concubine M S

contralto C2

/kənˈtræl.toʊ/ the lowest standard female singing voice, below mezzo-soprano M S

lithograph C2

/ˈlɪθəɡɹæf/ a print made by lithography, in which an image is drawn on a prepared flat surface and transferred to paper M S

diffident C2

/ˈdɪfɪdənt/ lacking self-confidence M S

plectrum C2

/ˈplɛktɹəm/ a small flat piece of plastic, metal, or other material used to pluck the strings of an instrument M S

polyphonic C2

/ˌpɑːlɪˈfɑːnɪk/ in music, consisting of two or more independent melodic lines sounding together M S

chiaroscuro C2

/ˌkjɑɹəˈsk(j)ʊɹoʊ/ the artistic use of strong contrasts between light and dark to model form or create dramatic effect M S

undulate C2

/ˈʌndjəleɪt/ increase and decrease in volume or pitch, as if in waves M S

tremolo C2

/ˈtrɛm.ə.loʊ/ a musical effect made by rapidly repeating one note or alternating between two notes M S

epigram C2

/ˈɛpəˌgræm/ A short, witty or pithy poem. M S

pre-raphaelite C2

/ˌpriːˈræf.i.ə.laɪt/ a member or follower of the nineteenth-century Pre-Raphaelite movement in British art M S

concomitant C2

/kənˈkɑːmətənt/ Something happening or existing at the same time. M S

busk C2

/bʌsk/ to perform music or another form of entertainment in a public place for voluntary donations M S

lacerate C2

/ˈlæ.sɚ.ɛɪt/ irregularly slashed and jagged as if torn M S

roundelay C2

/ˈɹaʊndəˌleɪ/ a song in which a line or phrase is repeated as the refrain M S

equivocate C2

/ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt/ To render equivocal or ambiguous. M S

risible C2

/ˈɹɪzɪbəl/ Of or pertaining to laughter M S

tragedian C2

/trəˈdʒiːdiən/ an actor who specializes in tragic roles M S

danseuse C2

/dænˈsɜːz/ dated: a female professional dancer, especially a ballet dancer M S

clavichord C2

/ˈklævɪˌkɔɹd/ an early keyboard instrument whose strings are struck by small metal blades, producing a soft, expressive sound M S

extirpate C2

/ˈɛkstɚpeɪt/ To cause a population to go extinct in a particular region, but not across the entire range of the species or subspecies. M S

annotation C2

/ənɵˈʈeʃən/ A critical or explanatory commentary or analysis. M S

impasto C2

/ɪmˈpæs.toʊ/ painting: the technique of applying paint thickly enough for brush or palette-knife marks to remain visibly raised M S

lapidary C2

/ˈlæpəˌdɛɹi/ of or relating to precious stones or the art of working with them M S

quaver C2

/ˈkweɪvər/ in British musical terminology, a note with half the time value of a crotchet; an eighth note M S

consonance C2

/ˈkɑnsənəns/ agreement or compatibility between opinions, principles, qualities, or actions M S

capriccio C2

/kəˈpriː.tʃiː.oʊ/ music: a lively, freely formed instrumental composition with a fanciful or improvisatory character M S

excoriate C2

/ɪkˈskɔɹ.iˌeɪt/ To strongly condemn or criticize. M S

poesy C2

/ˈpoʊəzi/ literary: poetry, especially considered as an art or body of writing M S

diapason C2

/daɪəˈpeɪzən/ a full, rich outpouring or range of musical sound; also a principal organ stop M S

recapitulation C2

/ɹiː.kəˌpɪ.t͡ʃəˈleɪ.ʃ(ə)n/ The symmetry provided by Christ's life to the teachings of the Old Testament; the summation of human experience in Jesus Christ. M S

tracery C2

/ˈtɹeɪsɚi/ ornamental stone, wood, or metalwork forming interlacing ribs or branching patterns, especially in a window M S

allusive C2

/əˈluː.sɪv/ characterized by indirect references M S

castanet C2

/ˌkæs.təˈnɛt/ one of a pair of small shell-shaped percussion instruments clicked together by the fingers, especially in Spanish dance M S

dithyramb C2

/ˈdɪθɪˌræm/ an ancient Greek choral hymn sung with passionate intensity in honor of Dionysus M S

arriviste C2

/ˌæ.ɹɪˈviːst/ An upstart or newcomer; nouveau riche; parvenu; an ambitious, brash or arrogant person who has yet to integrate with his or her new social group. M S

marquetry C2

/ˈmɑːɹ.kə.tɹi/ the decorative craft of fitting thin pieces of differently colored wood, shell, metal, or other veneer into a surface to form a design M S

footlight C2

/ˈfʊtˌlaɪt/ a stage light positioned along the front edge of a stage and directed upward at the performers M S

inharmonious C2

/ˌɪnhɑrˈmoʊniəs/ lacking pleasing musical harmony; discordant M S

harlequinade C2

/ˌhɑr.lə.kwəˈneɪd/ a comic theatrical entertainment featuring Harlequin and other stock characters, especially the concluding section of a traditional British pantomime M S

sybarite C2

/ˈsɪbəˌɹaɪt/ A person devoted to luxury and pleasure; a hedonist. M S

gamboge C2

/ɡæmˈbuʒ/ a yellow to orange gum resin from Southeast Asian Garcinia trees, formerly used as a pigment and purgative M S

taille C2

/taɪ/ A form of taxation levied on the land of peasants in pre-Revolutionary France. M S

metrical C2

/ˈmɛtɹɪkl̩/ Relating to birth certificates. M S

sforzando C2

/sfɔɹˈtsændoʊ/ music: played or marked with a sudden, forceful emphasis M S

mephitic C2

/ˌmɛˈfɪ.tɪk/ Foul-smelling or noxious, particularly of a gas or atmosphere. M S

truncate C2

/ˈtɹʌŋˌkeɪt/ terminating abruptly by having or as if having an end or point cut off M S

emblazon C2

/ɪmˈbleɪzən/ to display, write, or depict something prominently on a surface M S

putto C2

/ˈpʊtoʊ/ a painted or sculpted figure of a small, usually naked and often winged boy, especially in Renaissance or Baroque art M S

eclogue C2

/ˈɛk.lɒɡ/ a short pastoral poem, often presented as a monologue or dialogue between shepherds M S

idyl C2

/ˈaɪdəl/ a short poem or prose piece depicting peaceful rural or pastoral life M S

villanelle C2

/ˌvɪləˈnɛl/ a nineteen-line poem with five three-line stanzas and a final four-line stanza, using two repeating refrains and two rhymes M S

bandsman C2

/ˈbændz.mən/ a musician who plays in a band, especially a brass or military band M S

plangent C2

/ˈplænd͡ʒənt/ loud and resounding M S

cantatrice C2

/ˌkæntəˈtriːtʃeɪ/ a professional female singer, especially an opera singer M S

threnody C2

/ˈθrɛnədi/ a song, poem, or other composition expressing grief or mourning, especially for someone who has died M S

caryatid C2

/ˌkɛriˈætɪd/ a sculpted female figure used as an architectural support in place of a column or pillar M S

tessellated C2

/ˈtɛsəˌleɪtɪd/ covered or decorated with small tiles or pieces fitted together in a mosaic pattern M S

hautboy C2

/ˈhoʊˌbɔɪ/ archaic: an oboe or an early form of that treble double-reed woodwind instrument M S

mezzotint C2

/ˈmɛzoʊˌtɪnt/ a printmaking technique in which a metal plate is roughened to print dark tones and then scraped or burnished to create lighter areas M S

versify C2

/ˈvɝːsəˌfaɪ/ to compose poetry or write in verse M S

choreographical C2

Relating to choreography or the arranging of dance movements. M S

anapaest C2

/ˈæn.ə.piːst/ prosody: a metrical foot of three syllables in which two unstressed syllables are followed by one stressed syllable M S

oleograph C2

/ˈoʊ.li.əˌɡræf/ a color lithograph made to imitate the appearance of an oil painting M S

Jew's harp C2

/ˈdʒuːzˌhɑrp/ a small plucked instrument held against the teeth or lips, whose flexible tongue vibrates while the player's mouth changes the tone M S

paeon C2

/ˈpiːən/ a metrical foot of four syllables with one long or stressed syllable and three short or unstressed syllables M S

seriocomic C2

/ˌsɪɹioʊˈkɑːmɪk/ combining serious and comic elements, subjects, or moods M S

lacquerwork C2

/ˈlæk.ɚˌwɝːk/ decorative or artistic work made by applying, carving, painting, or inlaying layers of lacquer M S

dithyrambic C2

/ˌdɪθəˈræm.bɪk/ wildly or extravagantly enthusiastic in expression M S

sceneshifter C2

/ˈsiːnˌʃɪf.tɚ/ a stagehand who moves or changes theatrical scenery during a performance M S

palette knife C2

/ˈpæl.ət ˌnaɪf/ a blunt, flexible, flat-bladed artist's tool used to mix colors on a palette and sometimes to apply or remove paint M S

crow quill C2

/ˈkroʊ ˌkwɪl/ a quill from a crow's wing, especially one cut into a fine writing or drawing pen M S

trochee C2

/ˈtroʊki/ a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable, or a long syllable followed by a short one M S

tetrachord C2

/ˈtɛtɹəˌkɔɹd/ in music theory, a series of four notes spanning the interval of a perfect fourth M S

harmonist C2

/ˈhɑːrmənɪst/ a musician or composer skilled in creating, performing, or analyzing harmony M S

trompe-l’oeil C2

/ˌtrɔːmp ˈlɔɪ/ an artistic technique that uses realistic detail to create the illusion that painted objects are three-dimensional M S

photogravure C2

/ˌfoʊ.toʊ.ɡrəˈvjʊr/ an intaglio printing process that transfers a photographic image to an etched plate, or a print made by that process M S