Definitions for grotesque
groʊˈtɛskgrotesque

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

1. grotesque(adj)

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

2. grotesque, monstrous(adj)

   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, grotesque(adj)

   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. grotesque(Noun)

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

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

2. grotesque(Noun)

   Anything grotesque.

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

3. grotesque(Noun)

   A sans serif typeface.

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

4. grotesque(Adjective)

   distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

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

5. grotesque(Adjective)

   disgusting or otherwise viscerally reviling.

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

6. grotesque(Adjective)

   sans serif.

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

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

1. Grotesque(noun)

   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. Grotesque(noun)

   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

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Bernie Sanders:

   What Bernie Sanders need to do to deal with this grotesque level of wealth and income inequality is make sure that those people who are working -- you know what, Mr. Michael Bloomberg, it wasn't you who made all that money, maybe your workers played some role in that as well.

2. Jeffrey Toobin:

   It's a grotesque abuse of power by the President of the United States.

3. Zalmay Khalilzad:

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

4. John White:

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

5. 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.

Images & Illustrations of grotesque

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