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craquelure

[ krak-loo r, krak-loo r; French krakuh-lyr ]
/ krækˈlʊər, ˈkræk lʊər; French krakəˈlür /

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.

Nearby words

  1. crapshooter,
  2. crapulence,
  3. crapulent,
  4. crapulous,
  5. crapulously,
  6. crash,
  7. crash and burn,
  8. crash barrier,
  9. crash blossom,
  10. crash boat

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

/ (ˈkrækəlʊə) /

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