Arabesque
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
noun
A ballet position where the dancer stands on one foot and extends the other foot backwards.
She performed a perfect arabesque in the center of the stage.
Often appears as...
- ballet arabesque
- grand arabesque
Usage tips
Dance
noun
A piece of music that is very beautifully ornamented and has a free flowing structure.
Debussy's "Arabesque No. 1" is a favourite among classical music enthusiasts.
Often appears as...
- piano arabesque
- arabesque composition
Usage tips
Music
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
noun
A ballet position where the dancer stands on one foot and extends the other foot backwards.
She performed a perfect arabesque in the center of the stage.
Often appears as...
- ballet arabesque
- grand arabesque
Usage tips
Dance
noun
A piece of music that is very beautifully ornamented and has a free flowing structure.
Debussy's "Arabesque No. 1" is a favourite among classical music enthusiasts.
Often appears as...
- piano arabesque
- arabesque composition
Usage tips
Music
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.
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.
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.
Never forget "Arabesque"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Richard Seymour: How...
And part of the joy of it is, you know the difficulty. You also may be taking into account the fact that it's incredibly painful. Anybody seen a ballet dancer's toes when they come out of the points? While she's doing these graceful arabesques and plies and what have you, something horrible's going on down here.
Video examples
A brief history of...
an abstract celebration of the divine can still be found in arabesque patterns of Islamic textile design, with masterful flourishes of brushwork and Arabic calligraphy, where the words of the prophet assume a dual role as both literature and visual art. Likewise, in art from the early periods
Video examples
Richard Seymour: How...
And part of the joy of it is, you know the difficulty. You also may be taking into account the fact that it's incredibly painful. Anybody seen a ballet dancer's toes when they come out of the points? While she's doing these graceful arabesques and plies and what have you, something horrible's going on down here.
Video examples
A brief history of...
an abstract celebration of the divine can still be found in arabesque patterns of Islamic textile design, with masterful flourishes of brushwork and Arabic calligraphy, where the words of the prophet assume a dual role as both literature and visual art. Likewise, in art from the early periods
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Roberto Burle Marx
Brazilian Environmentalist
A garden is a complex of aesthetic and plastic intentions; and the plant is, to a landscape artist, not only a plant - rare, unusual, ordinary or doomed to disappearance - but it is also a color, a shape, a volume or an arabesque in itself.
Quote examples
Alan Watts
English Philosopher
How is it possible that a being with such sensitive jewels as the eyes, such enchanted musical instruments as the ears, and such fabulous arabesque of nerves as the brain can experience itself anything less than a god.
Quote examples
Natalia Makarova
Russian Dancer
You cannot dance an arabesque in 'Swan Lake' and 'Nutcracker' the same way.
Quote examples
Roberto Burle Marx
Brazilian Environmentalist
A garden is a complex of aesthetic and plastic intentions; and the plant is, to a landscape artist, not only a plant - rare, unusual, ordinary or doomed to disappearance - but it is also a color, a shape, a volume or an arabesque in itself.
Quote examples
Alan Watts
English Philosopher
How is it possible that a being with such sensitive jewels as the eyes, such enchanted musical instruments as the ears, and such fabulous arabesque of nerves as the brain can experience itself anything less than a god.
Quote examples
Natalia Makarova
Russian Dancer
You cannot dance an arabesque in 'Swan Lake' and 'Nutcracker' the same way.
Example 1 of 3
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension