Main Entry: ¹gro·tesque

Pronunciation: \grō-ˈtesk\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French, from Old Italian (pittura) grottesca, literally, cave painting, feminine of grottesco of a cave, from grotta

Date: 1561

1 a : a style of decorative art characterized by fanciful or fantastic human and animal forms often interwoven with foliage or similar figures that may distort the natural into absurdity, ugliness, or caricature b : a piece of work in this style
2 : one that is grotesque
3 : sans serif