Burlesque
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Definitions
- 1 A derisive art form that mocks by imitation; a parody. countable, uncountable
"Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first represents mean persons in the accoutrements of heroes, the other describes great persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people."
- 2 a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way wordnet
- 3 A variety adult entertainment show, usually including titillation such as striptease, most common from the 1880s to the 1930s. countable, uncountable
- 4 a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease) wordnet
- 5 A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion. countable, uncountable
"Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to, national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust from such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that sacred institute?"
- 1 To make a burlesque parody of.
"When the venerable New York Times took my quote in which I described the neon elements as "burlesquing the myth of male dominance" and instead printed "he prefers to describe them as . . . symbols of male dominance" it became clear that dealing with journalists was going to be one long, rocky road."
- 2 make a parody of wordnet
- 3 To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language.
"They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and turned the expression he used into ridicule."
- 1 Parodical; parodic dated
"It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like that of Hudibras."
- 1 relating to or characteristic of a burlesque wordnet
Example
More examples"French knickers are allowed in the world of burlesque."
Etymology
Borrowed from French burlesque, from Italian burlesco (“parodic”).