baroque

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /bəˈɹoʊk/ UK /bəˈɹɒk/ See IPA manual

Freq #25982

Meanings

1

adj
In the highly decorated, dramatic style of European art and music of about 1600 to 1750.

The church was a fine example of baroque architecture.
2

adj
Far too complicated or elaborate.

The new tax form involved baroque, confusing rules.
3

noun
The ornate artistic style of 17th-century Europe.

She wrote her thesis on music of the baroque.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 noun · the ornate artistic style... baroqueness

Word family

Forms barocco

Derived forms barococobaroquelybaroquenessbaroqueybaroquismneo-baroqueunbaroque

Simplified etymology

Baroque originally denoted an irregularly shaped pearl, whose shape recalled the elaborate detail of the architectural style. English received the word through French from Portuguese barroco, Spanish barrueco, or Italian barocco; its ultimate origin is unknown.

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.

baroque French barroco Portuguese verrūca Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Architecture & Buildings

External links

# baroque

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /bəˈɹoʊk/
**IPA (UK):** /bəˈɹɒk/
**Frequency rank:** 25982

## Meanings
1. In the highly decorated, dramatic style of European art and music of about 1600 to 1750.
2. Far too complicated or elaborate.
3. The ornate artistic style of 17th-century Europe.

## Examples
- The church was a fine example of baroque architecture.
- The new tax form involved baroque, confusing rules.
- She wrote her thesis on music of the baroque.

## Derived Forms
- barococo
- baroquely
- baroqueness
- baroquey
- baroquism
- neo-baroque
- unbaroque

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: baroque
- Root: barroco
- Root: verrūca

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Baroque comes 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. Important recorded forms include baroque (French), barroco (Portuguese), and verrūca (Latin). Current senses include in the highly decorated, dramatic style of European art and music of about 1600 to 1750, far too complicated or elaborate, and the ornate artistic style of 17th-century Europe. The wider family includes derived forms such as barococo, baroquely, baroqueness, baroquey, and baroquism.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Architecture & Buildings

markdown