(also Art Nouveau ) / ˌɑː(t) nuːˈvəʊ; NAmE ˌɑːr(t) nuːˈvoʊ/ noun
[ U ] a style of decorative art and architecture popular in Europe and the US at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century that uses complicated designs and curved patterns based on natural shapes like leaves and flowers
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WORD ORIGIN
early 20th cent.: from French , literally new art .