Arabesque
/ˌærəˈbesk/noun
A complex, ornate design often seen in Islamic art.
The mosque's walls were covered in stunning arabesques.
Often appears as...
- islamic arabesque
- arabesque pattern
Usage tips
Formal
Artistic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Origin
Arabesque in art reflects Islamic culture's avoidance of human figure representation.
Artists created complex arabesques to decorate mosques without depicting people or animals.
Pro Tip 2/3Geometric Patterns
Arabesque designs often involve repeated geometric shapes without beginning or end.
The tiling featured geometric arabesques that interlaced seamlessly.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Islamic
Although common in Islamic art, arabesque has influenced many global artistic styles.
The wallpaper adopted arabesque motifs popularized during the Victorian era.
Compare with
curldecorateembellishfiligreeornamentationspirographswirlwhirl
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