Grotesque Definition
grō-tĕsk
adjective
In or of a style of painting, sculpture, etc. in which forms of persons and animals are intermingled as with foliage, flowers, or fruits in a fantastic or bizarre design.
Webster's New World
Characterized by distortions or striking incongruities in appearance, shape, or manner; fantastic; bizarre.
Webster's New World
Ludicrously eccentric or strange; ridiculous; absurd.
Webster's New World
Of, relating to, or being the grotesque style in art or a work executed in this style.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
noun
A grotesque painting, sculpture, design, etc.
Webster's New World
A grotesque person, thing, or quality.
Webster's New World
A work of art executed in this style.
American Heritage
(typography) A sans serif typeface.
Wiktionary
Other Word Forms of Grotesque
Noun
Singular:
grotesque
Plural:
grotesquesOrigin of Grotesque
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From French a fanciful style of decorative art from Italian grottesca from feminine of grottesco of a grotto from grotta grotto grotto
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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Middle French grotesque (French: grotesque), from Italian grottesco (“of a cave”), from grotta. Compare English grotto.
From Wiktionary
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