rococo

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Related to rococo: rococo art

ro·co·co

(rə-kō′kō, rō′kə-kō′)

n. also Rococo

a. A style of art, especially architecture and decorative art, that originated in France in the early 1700s and is marked by elaborate ornamentation, as with a profusion of scrolls, foliage, and animal forms.

b. A very ornate style of speech or writing.

2. Music A style of composition arising in the 1700s in France, often viewed as an extension of the baroque, and characterized by a high degree of ornamentation and lightness of expression.

adj.

1. also Rococo Of or relating to the rococo.

2. Immoderately elaborate or complicated.

[French, probably alteration of rocaille, rockwork, from roc, rock, variant of roche, from Vulgar Latin *rocca.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

rococo

(rəˈkəʊkəʊ)

n (often capital)

1. (Architecture) a style of architecture and decoration that originated in France in the early 18th century, characterized by elaborate but graceful, light, ornamentation, often containing asymmetrical motifs

2. (Classical Music) an 18th-century style of music characterized by petite prettiness, a decline in the use of counterpoint, and extreme use of ornamentation

3. any florid or excessively ornamental style

adj

4. (Classical Music) denoting, being in, or relating to the rococo

5. (Architecture) denoting, being in, or relating to the rococo

6. florid or excessively elaborate

[C19: from French, from rocaille, from roc rock¹]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ro•co•co

(rəˈkoʊ koʊ, ˌroʊ kəˈkoʊ)

n.

1. an artistic style, chiefly of 18th-century France, marked by elegance and delicate ornamentation.

2. a homophonic 18th-century musical style marked by a witty fluency.

adj.

3. pertaining to or characteristic of rococo.

4. ornate or florid in speech, literary style, etc.

[1830–40; < French, akin to rocaille rocaille]

rococo

Often Derogatory. an artistic and literary style, developed from the baroque, characterized by complex and elaborate ornamentation. — rococo, adj.

rococo

1. A light and harmonic style of music that came to prominence in the early and mid eighteenth century in Europe, chiefly in France and Germany, following the baroque period. It is similar to baroque music in being characterized by ornamentation, but it is distinguished from baroque especially in featuring reduced use of counterpoint and less formality and complexity.

2. A style of French asymmetrical furniture, originating in the eighteenth century, emphasizing the S-shaped curve and comfort in reaction to baroque formality. It was characterized by improved plush upholstery, chinoiserie, bright colors, swirling carving, and extravagant marquetry. The style was widely exported and represents the zenith of restless frivolity of Louis XV furniture.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	rococo - fanciful but graceful asymmetric ornamentation in art and architecture that originated in France in the 18th century artistic style, idiom - the style of a particular artist or school or movement; "an imaginative orchestral idiom"
Adj.	1.	rococo - having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation; "an exquisite gilded rococo mirror" fancy - not plain; decorative or ornamented; "fancy handwriting"; "fancy clothes"

rococo

adjective extravagant, fancy, elegant, elaborate, baroque, ornamented, ornate, fussy, convoluted, flowery, florid, overelaborate, high-wrought, highly decorated, aureate rococo trimmings and gilt cherubs

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

rococo

adjective

Elaborately and heavily ornamented:

baroque, flamboyant, florid, ornate.

Translations

rokoko

rococo

rokokó

rococo

[rəʊˈkəʊkəʊ]

A. ADJ → rococó

B. N → rococó m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

rococo

[rəˈkəʊkəʊ]

n → rococo m

adj [style, art, artist, theatre] → rococo inv

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

rococo

n → Rokoko nt

adj → Rokoko-; rococo period → Rokoko nt, → Rokokozeit f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

rococo

[rəʊˈkəʊkəʊ] adj & n → rococò (m) inv

References in classic literature ?

He thought the city of the ancient Romans a little vulgar, finding distinction only in the decadence of the Empire; but the Rome of the Popes appealed to his sympathy, and in his chosen words, quite exquisitely, there appeared a rococo beauty.

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When the visitor has mounted the crumbling steps of this ancient donjon, he reaches a little plateau where, in the seventeenth century, Georges Philibert de Sequigny, Lord of the Glandier, Maisons-Neuves and other places, built the existing town in an abominably rococo style of architecture.

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Madame's bedroom was draped in a fabric of true blue and furnished in a rococo manner.

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Some of the effects are very daring, approaching even to the boldest flights of the rococo, the sirocco, and the Byzantine schools--yet the master's hand never falters--it moves on, calm, majestic, confident--and, with that art which conceals art, it finally casts over the TOUT ENSEMBLE, by mysterious methods of its own, a subtle something which refines, subdues, etherealizes the arid components and endures them with the deep charm and gracious witchery of poesy.

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If she had not been so decent her references would have seemed to carry one back to the queer rococo Venice of Casanova.

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This latter feature of the apartment was of white marble, and in the familiar rococo style of the last century; but above it was a paneling of an earlier date, quaintly carved, painted white, and gilded here and there.

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In this, as in Hamlet, there are the rococo excrescences--yourselves, let us say.

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The new and larger version of wine bar Covino, formerly in Rufus Court, is due to open in January in what was Rococo Chocolates.

Chester's Northgate Street no longer going south; Wine bars, a coffee shop and convenience store are among new ventures

Rococo has been a bit of a slow burner, but that seems to run in her family, and two of her relations excelled when stepped up in trip.

ROCOCO IS BACK IN STYLE; WINNER MACHINE

Continue reading "Fragonard's 'Young Girl Reading,' Female Agency, and Rococo Perversion" at...

Fragonard's 'Young Girl Reading,' Female Agency, and Rococo Perversion

The engaging play of words of the title --here the title Petit-Maitres alludes both to the lesser master and to the literary use of the term to refer to the pretentious young dandies of the age -- highlights the spirit of the Rococo, reflected in the often strong subject-matter of imagery, which will also come into the discussion.