arabesque
arabesque Lexical Profile
arabesque Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A posture in ballet in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended horizontally backward and the arms outstretched in a harmonious line.
"The prima ballerina held a flawless arabesque at the climax of the pas de deux."
An ornamental design consisting of intricately intertwined flowing lines, scrolling foliage, or geometric patterns, originally characteristic of Islamic and Moorish decorative art.
"The palace walls were adorned with gilded stucco arabesques and calligraphic friezes."
A short, ornate musical composition, typically for the piano, characterized by florid melodic embellishments and contrapuntal figures.
"The pianist opened her recital with Claude Debussy's First Arabesque."
• adjective
Relating to, executed in, or resembling the intricate, flowing style of an arabesque pattern.
"The ancient courtyard featured arched doorways framed by delicate arabesque carvings."
• Rhymes for arabesque
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-17th century from French arabesque, from Italian arabesco ('in the Arabic style'), derived from arabo ('Arab'). The term originally referred to the intricate, interlacing geometric and foliate surface decorations characteristic of Islamic art and architecture.