art nouveau

[ ahrt noo-voh, ahr; French ar-noo-voh ]
/ ˌɑrt nuˈvoʊ, ˌɑr; French ar nuˈvoʊ /

noun (often initial capital letters) Fine Arts.

a style of fine and applied art current in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized chiefly by curvilinear motifs often derived from natural forms.

Origin of art nouveau

1900–05; < French: literally, new art

British Dictionary definitions for art nouveau

Art Nouveau
/ (ɑː nuːˈvəʊ, French ar nuvo) /

noun

  1. a style of art and architecture of the 1890s, characterized by swelling sinuous outlines and stylized natural forms, such as flowers and leaves
  2. (as modifier)an Art-Nouveau mirror

Word Origin for Art Nouveau

French, literally: new art