baroque

1 of 2

adjective

ba·​roque bə-ˈrōk How to pronounce baroque (audio)
ba-,
-ˈräk,
-ˈrȯk
often capitalized
1
art : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent especially in the 17th century that is marked generally by use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and the juxtaposition of contrasting elements often conveying a sense of drama, movement, and tension
a baroque cathedral
baroque music and literature
the baroque period
2
: characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, complexity, or flamboyance
a truly baroque act of sabotageG. N. Shuster
3
of gems : irregularly shaped
a baroque pearl
baroquely adverb

baroque

2 of 2

noun

often capitalized
art : the baroque style or the period in which it flourished

Did you know?

Baroque came to English from the French word barroque, meaning "irregularly shaped." At first, the word in French was used mostly to refer to pearls. Eventually, it came to describe an extravagant style of art characterized by curving lines, gilt, and gold. This type of art, which was prevalent especially in the 17th century, was sometimes considered to be excessively decorated and overly complicated. It makes sense, therefore, that the meaning of the word baroque has broadened to include anything that seems excessively ornate or elaborate.

Examples of baroque in a Sentence

Adjective a somewhat baroque writing style a book filled with baroque descriptions
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Music blared, dancers jumped, men and women threw themselves onto their knees while weeping furiously, phones waved, children balanced precariously on dusty shoulders, banners rose and fell against the soaring baroque stone. Kayla Aletha Welch, Longreads, 19 Nov. 2024 Don’t miss the ancient temples, baroque churches, charming cucinas and cantinas, majestic villas, serene hideaways, one-of-a-kind shops and extraordinary artwork. Laura Manske, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Last July, Lucy Chadwick, the British director of the contemporary art gallery Champ Lacombe in Biarritz, France, bought a cake on the spur of the moment at a local bakery to accompany the opening of her latest exhibition, a group show about the digital-age baroque. Zoey Poll Katja Mayer, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Even the ballet music is a set of arrangements, gently spicing up tunes from the Italian baroque. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 24 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for baroque 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, from Middle French barroque irregularly shaped (of a pearl), from Portuguese barroco irregularly shaped pearl

Noun

noun derivative of baroque entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1734, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of baroque was circa 1734

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Dictionary Entries Near baroque

Cite this Entry

“Baroque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baroque. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

baroque

adjective
ba·​roque
bə-ˈrōk,
ba-,
-ˈräk
: of or relating to a style of art and music common in the 17th century that is marked especially by the use of much fancy decoration
baroque noun

More from Merriam-Webster on baroque

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