Rococo: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Rococo adjective. In an ornate eighteenth-century style full of curves, shells and gilding.
How to say it
ruh-KOH-koh/rəˈkəʊkəʊ/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (KOH).
Meanings
- In an ornate eighteenth-century style full of curves, shells and gilding.
- Overly elaborate or fussy.
Rococo in a sentence
The palace chapel is pure rococo, all pink marble and gilded cherubs.
His rococo emails take three paragraphs to say yes.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- ornate
- florid
- flamboyant
- fussy
Opposite:
- plain
- austere
Where rococo comes from
French, probably a playful change of rocaille, the shellwork used to decorate grottoes.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
His _____ emails take three paragraphs to say yes.
- numinous
- rococo
- mellifluous
Show the answer
rococo: His rococo emails take three paragraphs to say yes.