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- Dictionarybur·lesque/ˌbərˈlesk/
noun
- 1. an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody: "the funniest burlesque of opera"
- 2. a variety show, typically including striptease: "burlesque clubs"
verb
- 1. cause to appear absurd by parodying or copying in an exaggerated form: "she struck a ridiculous pose that burlesqued her own vanity"
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The meaning of BURLESQUE is a literary or dramatic work that seeks to ridicule by means of grotesque exaggeration or comic imitation. How to use burlesque in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Burlesque.
Clear definition and examples of Burlesque. Burlesque is a style in literature and drama that mocks or imitates a subject by representing it in an ironic or ludicrous way; resulting in comedy.
A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects. [1] . The word derives from the Italian burlesco, which, in turn, is derived from the Italian burla – a joke, ridicule or mockery. [2][3]
showing or writing about something serious in a way that tries to make it seem stupid and funny: The piece she wrote was a burlesque treatment of a religious sermon. Synonyms. mocking. satirical. More examples. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.
an artistic composition, especially literary or dramatic, that, for the sake of laughter, vulgarizes lofty material or treats ordinary material with mock dignity. Synonyms: farce, lampoon, satire. any ludicrous parody or grotesque caricature.
showing or writing about something serious in a way that tries to make it seem stupid and funny: The piece she wrote was a burlesque treatment of a religious sermon. Synonyms. mocking. satirical. More examples. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.
In contemporary usage, burlesque is a playfully nostalgic form of striptease — think fans and feather boas rather than explicit nudity — but this is just the latest form of an ironic style of entertainment dating back to medieval times.
n. 1. A literary or dramatic work that makes fun of something, often by means of outlandish exaggeration. 2. A ludicrous or mocking imitation; a travesty: The antics of the defense attorneys turned the trial into a burlesque of justice. 3. A variety show characterized by broad ribald comedy, dancing, and striptease.
noun. 1. an artistic work, esp literary or dramatic, satirizing a subject by caricaturing it. 2. a ludicrous imitation or caricature. 3. a play of the 17th–19th centuries that parodied some contemporary dramatic fashion or event. 4. Also: burlesk US and Canadian theatre.
Definition of burlesque noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.