fresco

noun

fres·co | \ˈfre-(ˌ)skō

\

plural frescoes

Definition of fresco

1 : the art of painting on freshly spread moist lime plaster with water-based pigments

2 : a painting executed in fresco

Other Words from fresco Fresco and the Art World Example Sentences Learn More about fresco

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Fresco and the Art World

The Italian word fresco means “fresh” and comes from a Germanic word akin to the source of English fresh. In the Renaissance, pittura a fresco, meaning “painting freshly,” referred to paint applied while the plaster on the wall was still wet, as opposed to pittura a secco “painting dryly,” in which paint is applied when the plaster was dry. In English, fresco appears earliest as part of the phrase in fresco; it does not appear as a noun referring to a painting until 1670. A different sense of Italian fresco, meaning “fresh air,” appears in the phrase al fresco “outdoors,” borrowed into English as alfresco and used particularly in reference to dining outdoors.

Examples of fresco in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The scene is reminiscent of Capri’s Da Paolino restaurant, where diners, including many wedding parties, eat al fresco amid a grove of lemon trees. — Jay Jones, latimes.com, "Here's what 57,000 flowers create at Vegas' Bellagio Conservatory, where love is in the air," 12 July 2018 Here are the other best al fresco dining honorees from Florida, according to OpenTable. — Lauren Delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Disney Springs restaurant named one of the best al fresco eateries by OpenTable," 9 July 2018 The least tiny part about the home is the covered deck, which alone comes in at 280 square feet and includes a wood burning stove, couch, and enough room to have a leisurely meal al fresco. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Prefab cabin comes with a deck almost as big as the house," 26 June 2018 Dining al fresco is divine, but the intimate dining room makes for an elegant evening. — Jennifer Mcclellan, azcentral, "20 romantic restaurants in Phoenix for your next date night," 21 Mar. 2018 The original Michelangelo fresco from the 1500's can be seen on the dome at the Sistene Chapel, but Grande puts a new spin on the iconic image, cropping herself in as God. — Connor Whittum, Billboard, "Ariana Grande's Epic 'God Is a Woman' Video, Decoded," 13 July 2018 Transfer to serving dish and top with fresh cilantro and queso fresco. — Veronica Hinke, chicagotribune.com, "Sun's out, grills out: Suburban Chicago chefs offer tips to grill right this season," 7 May 2018 Covering the central nave are superb 14th-century frescoes whose delicacy is all the more striking because of the rugged battlements surrounding them. — Christopher Bagley, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Bewitching Time Warp of Transylvania, Romania," 4 May 2018 Massey was a 2011 Kresge Artist Fellow and his frescoes, tile murals and paintings can be found in southwest Detroit, Midtown and Greektown as well as Grand Rapids and Flint. — Greg Crawford, Detroit Free Press, "Plan your weekend: 'Tosca,' ventriloquist Darci Lynne, Afro-Caribbean cook-off," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fresco.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

19 Oct 2018

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Time Traveler for fresco

The first known use of fresco was in 1598

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More Definitions for fresco

fresco

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fresco

: the art of painting on wet plaster

: a painting that is done on wet plaster

See the full definition for fresco in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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