arabesque

American  

[ar-uh-besk] / ˌær əˈbɛsk /

noun

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

2. 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.

3. a short, fanciful musical piece, typically for piano.

4. 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.

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adjective

1. decorated with or characterized by arabesques.

   arabesque design.

arabesque British  

/ ˌærəˈbɛsk /

noun

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

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

3. arts

   1. a type of curvilinear decoration in painting, metalwork, etc, with intricate intertwining leaf, flower, animal, or geometrical designs

   2. a design of flowing lines

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adjective

1. designating, of, or decorated in this style

Other Word Forms

• arabesquely adverb

Etymology

Origin of arabesque

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

Explanation

An arabesque is a position in which a ballerina stands on one leg with the other stretched out behind her. The back leg in an arabesque might be just touching the floor or extended straight up in the air. A ballet dancer in an arabesque position is familiar — many ballets include arabesques or arabesques penchée, when the ballerina's legs are at an angle greater than ninety degrees. Another kind of arabesque is a graceful design originally found in Islamic art and later in European art and design. This kind of arabesque resembles vines and leaves, rendered in metal, ceramic, or stone. The word arabesque comes from the Italian Arabo, or "Arab," used to describe Moorish architecture.

Example Sentences

The walls of the master bed chamber, for example—previously cream-colored—are now decked in an orange arabesque wallpaper with swags, birds and bouquets on a light-blue background.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

The setups were delightful and there was also the style, with all its arabesque flourishes and attention to ornate detail.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

This was classic couture — in sandstone tulle, sky-like lilac, blush cloud pink and dappled pastels — with arabesque motifs on golden foliage.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 24, 2024

There, McRae hits a perilous arabesque pose on top of a weight bench and moodily drives a Zamboni over an ice rink.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2023

To move through the sweeping gestures of a grand port de bras, the aching lift of an arabesque.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Related Words

• color
• design
• finery
• ornament
• plaque
• ribbon
• trinket
• wreath