burlesque

[ ber-lesk ]

noun

1. 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

2. any ludicrous parody or grotesque caricature.
3. Also burlesk. a humorous and provocative stage show featuring slapstick humor, comic skits, bawdy songs, striptease acts, and a scantily clad female chorus.

adjective

1. involving ludicrous or mocking treatment of a solemn subject.
2. of, relating to, or like stage-show burlesque.

verb (used with object)

, bur·lesqued, bur·lesquing.

1. to make ridiculous by mocking representation.

verb (used without object)

, bur·lesqued, bur·lesquing.

1. to use caricature.

burlesque

/ bɜːˈlɛsk /

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. Alsoburlesk theatre a bawdy comedy show of the late 19th and early 20th centuries: the striptease eventually became one of its chief elements Slang nameburleycue

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a burlesque

verb

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

Derived Forms

• burˈlesquer, noun

Other Words From

• bur·lesque·ly adverb
• bur·lesqu·er noun
• pre·bur·lesque adjective
• un·bur·lesqued adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of burlesque¹

1650–60; < French < Italian burlesco, equivalent to burl ( a ) jest (perhaps < Spanish; burladero ) + -esco -esque

Word History and Origins

Origin of burlesque¹

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

Synonym Study

Burlesque, caricature, parody, travesty refer to the literary or dramatic forms that imitate serious works or subjects to achieve a humorous or satiric purpose. The characteristic device of burlesque is mockery of both high and low through association with their opposites: a burlesque of high and low life. Caricature, usually associated with visual arts or with visual effects in literary works, implies exaggeration of characteristic details: The caricature emphasized his nose. Parody achieves its humor through application of the manner or technique, usually of a well-known writer, to unaccustomed subjects: a parody by Swift. Travesty implies a grotesque form of burlesque: characters so changed as to produce a travesty.

Example Sentences

Newport Theater — If you love a good show before dinner or are a connoisseur of burlesque, you absolutely must check out the Newport Theater.

From Salon

Instead, she said, she would be going to an alternative party, where drag and burlesque acts would cover old Eurovision hits.

From New York Times

You wouldn't normally think a senior citizen's burlesque group in Chinatown.

From Salon

A prologue invites theatergoers to immerse themselves in the boozy, burlesque spirit of the show before it properly begins.

From Los Angeles Times

Really, though, this is a seedy burlesque, with a bit of farce.

From Salon