bas-relief

[ bah-ri-leef, bas-; bah-ri-leef, bas- ]
/ ˌbɑ rɪˈlif, ˌbæs-; ˈbɑ rɪˌlif, ˈbæs- /

noun

relief sculpture in which the figures project slightly from the background.
Also called low relief.

Origin of bas-relief

1660–70; < French, on the model of Italian bassorilievo. Cf. basso-relievo, base2, relief2

Example sentences from the Web for bas-relief

British Dictionary definitions for bas-relief

bas-relief
/ (ˌbɑːrɪˈliːf, ˌbæs-, ˈbɑːrɪˌliːf, ˈbæs-) /

noun

sculpture in low relief, in which the forms project slightly from the background but no part is completely detached from it Also called (Italian): basso rilievo

Word Origin for bas-relief

C17: from French, from Italian basso rilievo low relief; see base ², relief

Cultural definitions for bas-relief

bas-relief
[ (bah ruh-leef) ]

A kind of carving or sculpture in which the figures are raised a few inches from a flat background to give a three-dimensional effect. The term is French for “low relief.”