Baroque

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /bæˈɹɒk/

Definitions

1. An ornate artistic and architectural style from the 17th and 18th centuries characterized by elaborate decoration, dramatic curves, and rich ornamentation
2. A style of European art, music, and architecture notable for its intricate detail, bold forms, and emotional intensity, prominent in the 1600s and 1700s
3. Characterized by extravagant embellishments, dynamic shapes, and a grand sense of movement, often reflecting complexity and contrast in artistic expression from the late Renaissance period

Etymology: Before it described gilded church interiors and swirling stucco, the root of "baroque" was a lumpy pearl. Portuguese traders called an irregularly shaped pearl "barroco," and the word passed through French as "baroque," still meaning an irregular pearl, before English borrowed it for things that were odd, uneven, or overly elaborate. The term was then applied to the art style that followed the Renaissance, a label that began as a mild insult. Critics used it to mock works they saw as distorted and excessively ornamented compared with the balanced forms of classical art. Over time the label lost its negative edge and came to name a whole period of dramatic, richly detailed painting, sculpture, and architecture. Where the Portuguese word itself came from is uncertain. It is related to Spanish "barrueco" and Italian "barocco," and some have proposed a Latin link to "verrūca," meaning wart. A separate suggestion ties it to "Baroco," a term from scholastic logic, but that connection is unconfirmed.

Synonyms: ornate, elaborate, extravagant, fancy, flamboyant

Antonyms: simple, plain, minimalist, unembellished, austere