burlesque

bur·lesque

 (bər-lĕsk′)

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.

v. bur·lesqued, bur·lesqu·ing, bur·lesques

v.tr.

To imitate mockingly or humorously: "always bringing junk ... home, as if he were burlesquing his role as provider" (John Updike).

v.intr.

To use the methods or techniques of burlesque.

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[From French, comical, from Italian burlesco, from burla, joke, probably from Spanish, from Vulgar Latin *burrula, diminutive of Late Latin burrae, nonsense, from burra, wool.]

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bur·lesque′ adj.

bur·lesque′ly adv.

bur·lesqu′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

burlesque

(bɜːˈlɛsk)

n

1. (Art Terms) an artistic work, esp literary or dramatic, satirizing a subject by caricaturing it

2. a ludicrous imitation or caricature

3. (Theatre) a play of the 17th–19th centuries that parodied some contemporary dramatic fashion or event

4. (Theatre) theatre Also: burlesk US and Canadian a bawdy comedy show of the late 19th and early 20th centuries: the striptease eventually became one of its chief elements. Slang name: burleycue

adj

(Literary & Literary Critical Terms) of, relating to, or characteristic of a burlesque

vb, -lesques, -lesquing or -lesqued

to represent or imitate (a person or thing) in a ludicrous way; caricature

[C17: from French, from Italian burlesco, from burla a jest, piece of nonsense]

burˈlesquely adv

burˈlesquer n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bur•lesque

(bərˈlɛsk)

n., adj., v. -lesqued, -lesquing. n.

1. a comic literary or dramatic piece that vulgarizes lofty material or elevates the ordinary.

2. any ludicrous parody or grotesque caricature.

3. a stage show featuring comic, usu. bawdy skits and striptease acts.

adj.

4. involving ludicrous or mocking treatment of a solemn subject.

5. of, pertaining to, or like stage-show burlesque.

v.t.

6. to make ridiculous by mocking representation.

v.i.

7. to use burlesque or caricature.

[1650–60; < French < Italian burlesco, derivative of burl(a) jest]

syn: burlesque, caricature, parody, travesty refer to literary or dramatic forms that imitate works or subjects to achieve a humorous or satiric purpose. The characteristic device of burlesque is mockery of serious or trivial subjects through association with their opposites: a burlesque of high and low life. caricature, usu. associated with visual arts or with visual effects in literary works, implies exaggeration of characteristic details: The caricature emphasized his large nose. parody achieves its humor through application of the style or technique of a well-known work or author to unaccustomed subjects: a parody of Hemingway. travesty takes a serious subject and uses a style or language that seems incongruous or absurd: a travesty of a senator making a speech.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

burlesque

- From French, which got it from Italian burlesco, a derivative of burla, "joke, fun"—which may have come from Latin burra, "trifle."

See also related terms for trifle.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

burlesque

an exaggerated representation; grotesque parody or satire.

See also: Representation

-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

burlesque

Past participle: burlesqued
Gerund: burlesquing

Imperative

burlesque

burlesque

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

burlesque

A coarse form of dramatic parody that seeks to entertain through distortion or ridicule, for example in the comic treatment of serious and well-known works.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	burlesque - a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease) show - a social event involving a public performance or entertainment; "they wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway"
	2.	burlesque - a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way parody, pasquinade, put-on, sendup, spoof, charade, lampoon, mockery, travesty, takeoff caricature, impersonation, imitation - a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect
Verb	1.	burlesque - make a parody of; "The students spoofed the teachers" spoof, parody mock - imitate with mockery and derision; "The children mocked their handicapped classmate" travesty - make a travesty of
Adj.	1.	burlesque - relating to or characteristic of a burlesque; "burlesque theater"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

burlesque

noun

1. parody, mockery, satire, caricature, send-up (Brit. informal), spoof (informal), travesty, takeoff (informal) The book read like a black comic burlesque.

adjective

1. satirical, comic, mocking, mock, farcical, travestying, ironical, parodic, mock-heroic, caricatural, hudibrastic a trio of burlesque stereotypes

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

burlesque

noun

A false, derisive, or impudent imitation of something:

caricature, farce, mock, mockery, parody, sham, travesty.

verb

To copy (the manner or expression of another), especially in an exaggerated or mocking way:

ape, caricature, imitate, mimic, mock, parody, travesty.

Idiom: do a takeoff on.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

BurleskeKarikatur

burlescofarsafarsescoparodiare

burlesque

[bɜːˈlesk]

A. ADJ → burlesco

B. N

1. (= parody) → parodia f

2. (US) (Theat) → revista f de estriptise

C. VT → parodiar

D. CPD burlesque show N (US) → revista f de estriptise

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

burlesque

[bɜː^rˈlɛsk] n (= performance, writing) → parodie f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

burlesque

n

(= parody) → Parodie f; (Theat) → Burleske f; (Liter) → Persiflage f

(US Theat) → Varieté nt, → Varietee nt; (= show) → Varietévorstellung f

adj

(= parodic) → parodistisch; (Theat) → burlesk; (Liter) → persiflierend

(US Theat) → Varieté-; burlesque show → Varietévorstellung f

vt → parodieren; book, author, style → persiflieren

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

burlesque

[bɜːˈlɛsk] n → parodia

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995