craquelure
[ krak-loor, krak-loor; French krakuh-lyr ]
noun,plural cra·que·lures [krak-loorz, krak-loorz; 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
1First recorded in 1910–15; <French, equivalent to craquel(er) “to crackle, crack” (imitative) + -ure -ure
Words Nearby craquelure
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for craquelure
craquelure
/ (ˈkrækəlʊə) /
noun
a network of fine cracks on old paintings caused by the deterioration of pigment or varnish
Origin of craquelure
1C20: 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
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