Rothko

American

[roth-koh] / ˈrɒθ koʊ /

noun

Mark, 1903–70, U.S. painter, born in Russia.

Rothko British

/ ˈrɒθkəʊ /

noun

Mark . 1903–70, US abstract expressionist painter, born in Russia

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Out of magnanimity, I’ll liken this trifle to a Rothko.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

A hovering patch of light in “Low Shining Sun” seems to be a homage to both Rothko and Ron Gorchov.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

"Rothko works seem to have terrible luck – this isn't the first damaged Rothko we've heard about," Mr Helm said.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2025

That’s the genius of a Rothko, though, an artist who could communicate something so intense about his own humanity with abstract strokes and well-deployed colors he provokes a visceral response in the viewer.

From Salon • May 17, 2024

He suggests to a junior named Colin Lester that he build his monologue, which is from Red, a play about the painter Mark Rothko, a bit more slowly.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023