Meaning & use
arabesque
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A ballet position in which the dancer stands on one leg while the other leg is extended straight behind.
Grammar: Often used with 'in': in an arabesque.
Patterns
- in an arabesque
- hold an arabesque
She held a perfect arabesque for several seconds.
The ballerina balanced in an arabesque, her back leg lifted high.
nouncountable or uncountable
A decorative pattern of flowing, interlaced lines, leaves, or flowers, often used in Islamic art.
Grammar: Can be countable (an arabesque) or uncountable (the wall was covered in arabesque).
Patterns
- arabesque pattern
- in arabesque
The mosque walls were decorated with intricate arabesques.
The artist painted a beautiful arabesque around the border.
Word forms
| plural | arabesques |
|---|
Common combinations
- perfect arabesque
- The dancer finished with a perfect arabesque.
- arabesque pattern
- The tiles featured a complex arabesque pattern.
- arabesque design
- The book cover had an elegant arabesque design.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ornament
- A more general word for decoration; arabesque is specifically a flowing, interlaced pattern.
- scrollwork
- Similar decorative pattern but often more spiral-shaped; arabesque is typically more flowing and intertwined.
Practice
In ballet, what is an arabesque?
Choose one answer.
An arabesque is a pose where the dancer stands on one leg and extends the other straight back. It is not a jump, spin, or shoe.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “arabesque”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.