collage

[ kuh-lahzh, koh- ]

noun

1. a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials not normally associated with one another, as newspaper clippings, parts of photographs, theater tickets, and fragments of an envelope.
2. a work of art produced by this technique. Compare assemblage ( def 3 ).
3. an assemblage or occurrence of diverse elements or fragments in unlikely or unexpected juxtaposition:

   The experimental play is a collage of sudden scene shifts, long monologues, musical interludes, and slapstick.

4. a film that presents a series of seemingly unrelated scenes or images or shifts from one scene or image to another suddenly and without transition.

verb (used with object)

, col·laged, col·lag·ing.

1. to make a collage of:

   The artist has collaged old photos, cartoon figures, and telephone numbers into a unique work of art.

collage

/ kɒ-; kɔlaʒ; kəˈlɑːʒ /

noun

1. an art form in which compositions are made out of pieces of paper, cloth, photographs, and other miscellaneous objects, juxtaposed and pasted on a dry ground
2. a composition made in this way
3. any work, such as a piece of music, created by combining unrelated styles

Derived Forms

• colˈlagist, noun

Other Words From

• col·lagist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of collage¹

1915–20; < French, equivalent to colle paste, glue (< Greek kólla ) + -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of collage¹

C20: French, from coller to stick, from colle glue, from Greek kolla

Example Sentences

It’s a dazzling, tune-filled collage of images, words and sounds, recounting the moment during the Cold War when Congolese independence, hot jazz and geopolitical tensions made a sound heard around the world.

From Los Angeles Times

Jurado waved at a mound of mementos around her dining room table gifted by volunteers and voters — scrapbooks, posters, artwork, photo collages — mixed in among thank-you cards that need to be mailed out.

From Los Angeles Times

"I thought the best way to get through to people is the visual way," she said, after using more than 50 images of young patients to make a protest collage.

From BBC

He’s falsely floated suggestions that she supports him, most recently sharing a collage of photos showing an alleged “Swifties for Trump” movement.

From Los Angeles Times

Holly, a former recording artist who has worked with the likes of Pharrell Williams, focuses on collage with the self-referential “Public Figures,” utilizing original photography and images from his previous work.

From Los Angeles Times