I. |bər|lesk, (ˈ)bə̄|l-, (ˈ)bəi|l-, _bə(r)ˈl- adjective
Etymology: French, from Italian burlesco, from burla joke, from Spanish, probably modification of Late Latin burra trifle, bit of nonsense, perhaps from burra shaggy cloth — more at bureau
1. archaic : droll , jocular , odd
2. : marked by an effect of comic or grotesque imitation or exaggeration usually with the intent of mocking or making ridiculous : derisively imitative
a burlesque account of the adventures of a knight errant
a burlesque version of the heroic epic
a favorite bulldog, whose … great corpulence gave it a burlesque resemblance to its master — Sir Walter Scott
3. : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of burlesque entertainment
a burlesque house
burlesque jokes
jolt the chorus regulars out of their usual sloppy, tawdry, burlesque style — Flora Lewis
• bur·lesque·ly adverb
II. “ — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ is especially freq for sense 3 noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a literary composition or dramatic representation that ridicules something, usually the serious and dignified (as Samuel Butler's Hudibras ) but sometimes the trivial and commonplace (as Alexander Pope's Rape of the Lock ) by means of grotesque exaggeration or comic imitation
the literature of burlesque
b. : a work (as a play or novel) of this kind
a first-class burlesque in response … to Scott's “Ivanhoe” — Harvey Breit
2. : a grotesque likeness or exaggerated imitation : caricature
he has become a perversion of its ideals and a burlesque of his own earlier hopes — J.W.Aldridge
3. also bur·lesk “ : theatrical entertainment of a broadly humorous often earthy character consisting of comic skits, striptease acts, and songs and dances performed by soloists or a chorus
Synonyms: see caricature
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to make ridiculous by burlesque : make the subject of a burlesque : mock
each of the three dancers burlesqued his own style — John Martin
the act that burlesques a magician sawing a person in half — Henry La Cossitt
intransitive verb
: to employ burlesque
Synonyms: see copy