craquelure

[krak-loo r, krak-loo r; French krakuh-lyr]

noun, plural cra·que·lures [krak-loo rz, krak-loo rz; French krakuh-lyr] /krækˈlʊərz, ˈkræk lʊərz; French krakəˈlür/.

a network of fine cracks or crackles on the surface of a painting, caused chiefly by shrinkage of paint film or varnish.

Origin of craquelure

1910–15; < French, equivalent to craquel(er) to crackle, crack (imitative) + -ure -ure

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

British Dictionary definitions for craquelure

craquelure

noun

a network of fine cracks on old paintings caused by the deterioration of pigment or varnish

Word Origin for craquelure

C20: from French, from craqueler to crackle, from craquer to crack, of imitative origin

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