arabesque

[ ar-uh-besk ]

/ ˌær əˈbɛsk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arabesque ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Fine Arts. a sinuous, spiraling, undulating, or serpentine line or linear motif.

a pose in ballet in which the dancer stands on one leg with one arm extended in front and the other leg and arm extended behind.

a short, fanciful musical piece, typically for piano.

any ornament or ornamental object, as a rug or mosaic, in which flowers, foliage, fruits, vases, animals, and figures are represented in a fancifully combined pattern.

adjective

decorated with or characterized by arabesques: arabesque design.

Nearby words

arab-american, arab-israeli conflict, arab., araban, arabel, arabesque, arabia, arabia deserta, arabia felix, arabia petraea, arabian

Origin of arabesque

1605–15; < French < Italian arabesco ornament in Islamic style, literally, Arabian, equivalent to Arab(o) Arab + -esco -esque

Related forms

ar·a·besque·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for arabesque

Arabesque focuses on Turkey, Morocco and Lebanon, with the added bonus of a beautiful design and great photos.
Fresh Picks|Jody Adams|April 27, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Amidst the scrolls of arabesque foliage which adorn it, appear the arms of the principal Portuguese nobility.
Italy; with sketches of Spain and Portugal|William Beckford
And where he uses an arabesque of foliage, depend upon it it will be to purpose—not redundant.
Val d'Arno|John Ruskin
On the arabesque in which the painting is set is a cartel inscribed with name and date.
Pintoricchio|Evelyn March Phillipps

The carpet, which was in itself a study, was an arabesque pattern of oak upon a light-blue ground.
Rutledge|Miriam Coles Harris
Tessie, the quick-tongued, would pat the arabesque of shining hair that lay coiled so submissively against either glowing cheek.
Half Portions|Edna Ferber

British Dictionary definitions for arabesque

arabesque

/ (ˌærəˈbɛsk) /

noun

ballet a classical position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind and both arms stretched out in one of several conventional poses

music a piece or movement with a highly ornamented or decorated melody

arts

a type of curvilinear decoration in painting, metalwork, etc, with intricate intertwining leaf, flower, animal, or geometrical designs
a design of flowing lines

adjective

designating, of, or decorated in this style

Word Origin for arabesque

C18: from French, from Italian arabesco in the Arabic style

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012