arabesque
[ ar-uh-besk ]
/ ˌær əˈbɛsk /
noun
Fine Arts.
a sinuous, spiraling, undulating, or serpentine line or linear motif.
a pose in ballet in which the dancer stands on one leg with one arm extended in front and the other leg and arm extended behind.
a short, fanciful musical piece, typically for piano.
any ornament or ornamental object, as a rug or mosaic, in which flowers, foliage, fruits, vases, animals, and figures are represented in a fancifully combined pattern.
adjective
decorated with or characterized by arabesques: arabesque design.
Origin of arabesque
OTHER WORDS FROM arabesque
ar·a·besque·ly, adverbWords nearby arabesque
arab-american,
arab-israeli conflict,
arab.,
araban,
arabel,
arabesque,
arabia,
arabia deserta,
arabia felix,
arabia petraea,
arabian
Example sentences from the Web for arabesque
British Dictionary definitions for arabesque
arabesque
/ (ˌærəˈbɛsk) /
noun
ballet
a classical position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind and both arms stretched out in one of several conventional poses
music
a piece or movement with a highly ornamented or decorated melody
arts
- a type of curvilinear decoration in painting, metalwork, etc, with intricate intertwining leaf, flower, animal, or geometrical designs
- a design of flowing lines
adjective
designating, of, or decorated in this style
Word Origin for arabesque
C18: from French, from Italian
arabesco in the Arabic style