Definitions for grotesque
groʊˈtɛskgrotesque

Princeton's WordNet(2.75 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. grotesqueadjective

   art characterized by an incongruous mixture of parts of humans and animals interwoven with plants

2. grotesque, monstrousadjective

   distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

   "tales of grotesque serpents eight fathoms long that churned the seas"; "twisted into monstrous shapes"

3. antic, fantastic, fantastical, grotesqueadjective

   ludicrously odd

   "Hamlet's assumed antic disposition"; "fantastic Halloween costumes"; "a grotesque reflection in the mirror"

Wiktionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. grotesquenoun

   A style of ornamentation characterized by fanciful combinations of intertwined forms.

   Etymology: grotesque (French: grotesque), from grottesco, from grotta. Compare English grotto.

2. grotesquenoun

   Anything grotesque.

   Etymology: grotesque (French: grotesque), from grottesco, from grotta. Compare English grotto.

3. grotesquenoun

   A sans serif typeface.

   Etymology: grotesque (French: grotesque), from grottesco, from grotta. Compare English grotto.

4. grotesqueadjective

   distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

   Etymology: grotesque (French: grotesque), from grottesco, from grotta. Compare English grotto.

5. grotesqueadjective

   disgusting or otherwise viscerally reviling.

   Etymology: grotesque (French: grotesque), from grottesco, from grotta. Compare English grotto.

6. grotesqueadjective

   sans serif.

   Etymology: grotesque (French: grotesque), from grottesco, from grotta. Compare English grotto.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Grotesquenoun

   a whimsical figure, or scene, such as is found in old crypts and grottoes

   Etymology: [F., fr. It. grottesco, fr. grotta grotto. See Grotto.]

2. Grotesquenoun

   artificial grotto-work

   Etymology: [F., fr. It. grottesco, fr. grotta grotto. See Grotto.]

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Grotesque

   The word grotesque comes from the same Latin root as "grotto", which originated from Greek krypte "hidden place", meaning a small cave or hollow. The original meaning was restricted to an extravagant style of Ancient Roman decorative art rediscovered and then copied in Rome at the end of the 15th century. The "caves" were in fact rooms and corridors of the Domus Aurea, the unfinished palace complex started by Nero after the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64, which had become overgrown and buried, until they were broken into again, mostly from above. Spreading from Italian to the other European languages, the term was long used largely interchangeably with arabesque and moresque for types of decorative patterns using curving foliage elements. Since at least the 18th century, grotesque has come to be used as a general adjective for the strange, fantastic, ugly, incongruous, unpleasant, or disgusting, and thus is often used to describe weird shapes and distorted forms such as Halloween masks. In art, performance, and literature, grotesque, however, may also refer to something that simultaneously invokes in an audience a feeling of uncomfortable bizarreness as well as empathic pity. More specifically, the grotesque forms on Gothic buildings, when not used as drain-spouts, should not be called gargoyles, but rather referred to simply as grotesques, or chimeras.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Grotesque

   grō-tesk′, adj. extravagantly formed: ludicrous.—n. (art) extravagant ornament, containing animals, plants, &c. not really existing.—adv. Grotesque′ly.—ns. Grotesque′ness; Grotesqu′ery. [Fr. grotesque—It. grotesca—grotta, a grotto.]

How to pronounce grotesque?

1. Alex

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How to say grotesque in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of grotesque in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of grotesque in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of grotesque in a Sentence

1. Sergio Ramos:

   La Liga has lost credibility. We feel trampled upon and humiliated, it is a long time since I have seen something so grotesque and shameful that doesn't benefit us or Madrid. All of us lose credibility.

2. Trump Jr.:

   I hope every elected Democrat in the country has the common decency and moral courage to disavow these types of grotesque statements from members of their party.

3. John White:

   You see a pretty grotesque example of misspending of taxpayer dollars.

4. Zalmay Khalilzad:

   The attack on Amrullah Saleh's political party offices was grotesque and a clear act of terrorism.

5. Rafi Eitan:

   Rafi Eitan told Fox News Leland Vittert. Eventually, the man admitted he was Adolf Eichmann. With more derring-do, Rafi Eitan and his fellow commandoes spirited Eichmann out of Argentina and brought him back to Israel where he was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. ANCIENT CLAY JAR FRAGMENT DEPICTING GROTESQUE DEITY DISCOVERED IN JERUSALEMS CITY OF DAVID At a reunion for those involved in Eichmanns capture and trial some years ago, Rafi Eitan recalled Eichmanns capturewith a twinkle in Rafi Eitan eye. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP I was 51 years younger( then), but I am able and ready to do the same thing again.

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