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rococo Definition

ro·coco (rə kō′kō; occas. rō′kə kō′)

noun

  1. a style of architecture, decorative art, music, etc. of the early 18th cent. developed from and in reaction to the Baroque and characterized by profuse and delicate ornamentation, reduced scale, lightness, grace, etc.
  2. a style of architecture, music, etc. regarded, often disparagingly, as like this

Etymology: Fr < rocaille, rock work, shell work < roc < OFr roche, rock

adjective

  1. of or in rococo
  2. too profuse and elaborate in ornamentation; florid and tasteless

rococo Synonyms

rococo

modif.

extravagant, embellished, baroque, florid; see ornate 1.

rococo Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • French: From the 1740s onwards the informal asymmetric style of French rococo was translated into flock.

Modifies a noun

  • plasterwork: The ceiling with rococo plasterwork and a cornice which shows corbels and flower heads.
  • style: The body being finely chased with flowers and scrolls in the late rococo style as are the top portion of the bells.
  • decoration: The elegantly proportioned interior retains its homely atmosphere and is renowned for its very fine plaster and wood rococo decoration.
  • table: In each of the thousand Louis XVI operating rooms a lyric music song sound Destyn-Carr wireless instrument was to stand upon a rococo table.
  • interior: He was responsible for the addition of one of the most important rococo interiors in Scotland.
  • palace: Queluz has an 18th-century rococo palace, supposedly modeled on Versailles.