Main Entry:

¹bur·lesque

Pronunciation:

\(ˌ)bər-ˈlesk\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

burlesque, adjective, comic, droll, from French, from Italian burlesco, from burla joke, from Spanish

Date:

1667

1 : a literary or dramatic work that seeks to ridicule by means of grotesque exaggeration or comic imitation 2 : mockery usually by caricature 3 : theatrical entertainment of a broadly humorous often earthy character consisting of short turns, comic skits, and sometimes striptease acts

synonyms see caricature

— burlesque adjective

— bur·lesque·ly adverb