skeuomorphism

[ skyoo-uh-mawr-fiz-uhm ]

noun

1. the quality or fact of having, incorporating, or using skeumorphs in an object or design:

   In a talk on skeuomorphism in Greek temples, the professor explained that the detailed stonework carving was intended to reproduce the look of wooden beams.

2. a style of digital design marked by three-dimensional graphics that mimic physical objects, either for decoration or to assist the user interface: Compare flat design.

   After 2007, there was a radical shift in the design community away from skeuomorphism and toward purely digital representations.

Word History and Origins

Origin of skeuomorphism¹

First recorded in 2000–05; skeuomorph ( def ) + -ism ( def )