Definition of MAQUETTE

Did You Know?

Maquette came to English directly from French, first appearing in our language in the late 19th century. The French word, which possesses the same meaning as its English descendant, derived from the Italian noun macchietta, meaning "sketch," and ultimately from Latin macula, meaning "spot." Maquettes are generally intended to serve as rough models of larger designs. Architects make maquettes of their buildings, and sculptors often create maquettes in wax or clay to help them realize the final sculpture. As an aside, you might spot something familiar in the word's Latin ancestor. The term "macula" in English refers to a spot (such as one on the eye) that is different from surrounding tissue; this is where we get the term "macular degeneration."

Examples of maquette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even smaller pieces are the show's most peculiar and enchanting: The nine littlest works (7 to 10 inches tall) read as miniatures, or maquettes. — Leah Ollman, latimes.com, "For Nathan Hayden at CB1 Gallery, the smaller the canvas, the bigger the effect," 13 Mar. 2018 There are small maquettes for commissions in an adjacent gallery, including a study for a 10-foot-tall installation in Denver in which early-morning condensation produced fog (it was later dismantled). — Ann Landi, WSJ, "‘Larry Bell: Hocus, Focus and 12’ Review: Thinking Inside the Box," 18 Sep. 2018 The exhibit at the Glade Cultural Center includes maquettes of life size sculptures throughout the country — Major General James Earl Rudder at Texas A&M University, Col. — Patricia Dillon, Houston Chronicle, "Lawrence Ludtke sculptures featured at Glade Cultural Center," 12 May 2018 Erik Ludtke, the son of Ludtke, and his wife, Laura, told the stories behind several of the maquettes displayed at the Glade Cultural Center. — Patricia Dillon, Houston Chronicle, "Lawrence Ludtke sculptures featured at Glade Cultural Center," 12 May 2018 Those cabins are sited on James Benning’s property in Pine Flat, but maquettes of them have been shown in museums all over the world. — Zoie Matthew, Los Angeles Magazine, "L.A. Author Rachel Kushner Takes On California’s “So-Called ‘Justice’ System” in Her New Book," 2 May 2018 Naperville Century Walk last week approved an 18-inch maquette of the statue designed by David Alan Clark, a Wyoming artist. — Erin Hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Design for a Laughing Lincoln statue in Naperville's Central Park approved," 2 May 2018 Media: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle Coppini created a maquette of what the statue was to look like, a first draft of sorts, to be auctioned off to raise funds for the victims of the natural disaster. — Craig Hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, "The story behind a lost statue honoring victims of Galveston's deadly 1900 hurricane," 25 Apr. 2018 His past projects -- curated cabinets of curiosities, maquettes of childrens' rooms and artists' studios, a fallen tree rehousedin a robotic greenhouse -- delight in their aesthetic achievements. — Pelican Bomb, NOLA.com, "Been wondering about that mysterious cottage on the Algiers Point levee?," 23 Jan. 2018

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