arabesque

C2 Topic:Art & Music

US /ˌær.əˈbɛsk/ UK /ˌær.əˈbesk/ See IPA manual

Freq #53914

Meanings

1

noun
an intricate decorative design of interlacing lines, scrolling foliage, or geometric forms, especially in Islamic and Renaissance art

Burnished steel arabesques covered the surface of the Moorish lamp.
2

noun
ballet: a pose in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other extended straight behind the body

The dancer held a poised arabesque before lowering her raised leg.
3

noun
a short, decorative musical composition with flowing or elaborately ornamented lines

The pianist played a delicate arabesque by Debussy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an intricate decorative... interlaced ornamentscrollwork

2 noun · ballet: a pose in which the... ballet pose

3 noun · a short, decorative musical... character piece

Word family

Forms arabesques

Derived forms arabesquedarabesquelike

Related forms moresquegrotesque ballet ornamentation

Etymology

Borrowed from French arabesque through Italian arabesco, 'in the Arab style,' from arabo, 'Arab.' European art terminology applied it to interlacing ornament associated with Islamic design; ballet and music later borrowed the name for similarly extended or decorative forms.

Topics

Art & Music

External links

# arabesque

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌær.əˈbɛsk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌær.əˈbesk/
**Frequency rank:** 53914

## Meanings
1. an intricate decorative design of interlacing lines, scrolling foliage, or geometric forms, especially in Islamic and Renaissance art
2. ballet: a pose in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other extended straight behind the body
3. a short, decorative musical composition with flowing or elaborately ornamented lines

## Examples
- Burnished steel arabesques covered the surface of the Moorish lamp.
- The dancer held a poised arabesque before lowering her raised leg.
- The pianist played a delicate arabesque by Debussy.

## Synonyms
- interlaced ornament
- scrollwork
- ballet pose
- character piece

## Derived Forms
- arabesqued
- arabesquelike

## Related Forms
- moresque
- grotesque
- ballet
- ornamentation

## Etymology
Borrowed from French arabesque through Italian arabesco, 'in the Arab style,' from arabo, 'Arab.' European art terminology applied it to interlacing ornament associated with Islamic design; ballet and music later borrowed the name for similarly extended or decorative forms.

## Topics
- Art & Music

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