grotesque

CEFRC1

/ɡɹəʊˈtɛsk/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Strangely ugly, frightening, or unnatural.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Disgusting or otherwise viscerally revolting.

Examples

  • If the agreement were enforced, it would create a situation verging on the grotesque.

  • They made huge, grotesque, yet beautiful poles of red cedar.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /ɡɹoʊˈtɛsk/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Sans serif.

  2. Distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal, especially in a hideous way.

noun

Extra meaning

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

More examples

In context

  • The chimney-piece was of party-coloured marble, covered with figures, some of whose faces were beautiful, but generally running off into those grotesque combinations which characterised the peculiar taste of their time.

  • This is to grotesque Dante, not to translate him.

  • At this point, species is seen antagonistically by the subject as something intent on restricting its freedom and grotesqueing its vitality.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The artist's painting of a twisted face was so blank that children cried.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

Borrowed from Middle French grotesque, from Italian grottesco, from grotta (“cave”) + -esco (relational suffix). By surface analysis, grotto + -esque. Compare French grotesque, English grotto.