bur|lesqu´er

bur|lesque «bur LEHSK», noun, verb, -lesqued, -lesqu|ing, adjective.

–n.

1. a) a story, play, or essay, that treats a serious subject ridiculously, or a trivial subject as if it were important: »

Mark Twain's story, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court,” is a burlesque of the legends about King Arthur.

SYNONYM(S): parody, take-off, mock-heroic. b) Figurative. a ridiculous imitation of something worthy or dignified; mockery: »

By taking bribes the judge made a burlesque of his high office.

2. a kind of vaudeville characterized by coarse, vulgar comedy and dancing.

–v.t., v.i.

to imitate so as to make fun of: »

Firbank…violently burlesqued the esthetic world in which he lived (Newsweek).

SYNONYM(S): caricature, travesty.

–adj.

1. making people laugh; comically imitative. SYNONYM(S): comical.

2. of or having to do with the kind of vaudeville called burlesque: »

a burlesque show.

╂[< French burlesque < Italian burlesco < burla jest]

–bur|lesque´ly, adverb.

–bur|lesqu´er, noun.