baroque

¹ba·roque

adjective, often capitalized \bə-ˈrōk, ba-, -ˈräk, -ˈrȯk\

Definition of BAROQUE

1

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent especially in the 17th century that is marked generally by use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and the juxtaposition of contrasting elements often conveying a sense of drama, movement, and tension

2

: characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, complexity, or flamboyance

3

: irregularly shaped —used of gems <a baroque pearl>

— ba·roque·ly adverb

Examples of BAROQUE

1. a somewhat baroque writing style
2. a book filled with baroque descriptions

Origin of BAROQUE

French, from Middle French barroque irregularly shaped (of a pearl), from Portuguese barroco irregularly shaped pearl

First Known Use: 1765

Related to BAROQUE

Synonyms

excessive, devilish, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, fancy, immoderate, inordinate, insane, intolerable, lavish, overdue, overextravagant, overmuch, overweening, plethoric, steep, stiff, towering, unconscionable, undue, unmerciful

Antonyms

middling, moderate, modest, reasonable, temperate

Related Words

boundless, endless, immeasurable, infinite, limitless; unbearable, unjustifiable, unwarranted; improper, inappropriate, thick, unseemly; unrestrained

Near Antonyms

deficient, inadequate, insufficient; minimal, minimum

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

Rhymes with BAROQUE

acock, ad hoc, air lock, alt-rock, amok, armlock, art-rock, backblock, ball cock, Balzac, bangkok, Bangkok, Bartók, bawcock, bedrock, bemock, bitstock, blackcock, blesbok, bloodstock, breechblock, burdock, buttstock, caprock, coldcock, crew sock, deadlock, defrock, dreadlock, dry dock, Dvořák, earlock, elflock, en bloc, epoch, fatstock, feedstock, fetlock, firelock, flintlock, forelock, foreshock, gamecock, gemsbok, gridlock, half cock, hard rock, havelock, haycock, headlock, headstock, heart block, hemlock, in stock, Iraq, jazz-rock, Kanak, Kazak, Kazakh, kapok, kneesock, Ladakh, Laubach, livestock, lovelock, matchlock, Mohock, Moloch, nostoc, o'clock, oarlock, padlock, peacock, penstock, petcock, pibroch, picklock, post hoc, punk rock, rhebok, rimrock, roadblock, rootstock, Rostock, rowlock, scalp lock, Schirach, seed stock, shamrock, Sheetrock, shell shock, sherlock, Ship Rock, shock jock, shot clock, shylock, Sirach, slickrock, Slovak, smock frock, snatch block, soft rock, springbok, steenbok, stopcock, sunblock, swage block, ticktock, time clock, time lock, traprock, unblock, uncock, undock, van Gogh, wall rock, warlock, wedlock, wheel lock, whipstock, woodblock, woodcock, wristlock, zwieback

²baroque

noun, often capitalized

Definition of BAROQUE

: the baroque style or the period in which it flourished

First Known Use of BAROQUE

1877

Other History Terms

agonistic, carpetbagger, enceinte, fief, historiography, paladin