Muqarnas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A decorative architectural element found in Islamic structures, consisting of a series of tiered, three-dimensional forms that enhance ceilings or vaults
2. An ornate feature in Islamic architecture, characterized by elaborate, geometrically patterned niches that create depth and visual interest in domes and other surfaces
3. A complex decorative structure in Islamic architecture, composed of numerous small, interlocking forms that create a visually striking effect on ceilings and vaults

Etymology: Muqarnas is the honeycomb-like vaulting of stalactite-shaped niches that fills domes, portals and ceilings across the Islamic world. Its name comes from Arabic "muqarnaṣ," a form built on the verb "qarnīṣ," and that verb traces back to Ancient Greek "korōnís," meaning "curved." The word therefore carries an old Greek idea of a bend or curl through its Arabic form, even though the architecture it names is a far later Islamic invention. The name also has a second possible source in Persian, "moqarnas," which is the alternative route given for the word. Either way, the term reached Arabic and Persian builders describing a ceiling made of many small, repeating vaulted cells, the kind of surface that makes a dome look like it is dripping with carved stone.