Baroque

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /bæˈrÉ’k/

• US IPA: /bəˈroÊŠk/

Origin

Via French (which originally meant a pearl of irregular shape) from Portuguese barroco ("irregular pearl"); related to Spanish barrueco and Italian barocco, of uncertain ultimate origin, but possibly from Latin verruca ("wart").

Full definition of baroque

Adjective

1. ornate, intricate, decorated, laden with detail.
2. complex and beautiful, despite an outward irregularity.
3. chiseled from stone, or shaped from wood, in a garish, crooked, twisted, or slanted sort of way, grotesque.
4. embellished with figures and forms such that every level of relief gives way to more details and contrasts.