chiaroscuro
1 synonym for chiaroscuro, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An artistic technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to give the impression of solid volume.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Rembrandt lighting
How to use chiaroscuro
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
chiaroscuro effect
dramatic chiaroscuro
a chiaroscuro portrait
Renaissance chiaroscuro
Formal and specialist, mostly used when talking about art and photography.
Etymology
English borrowed the word in the mid-17th century from Italian. The Italian word joins chiaro, meaning clear or bright, and oscuro, meaning dark.
Full origin of chiaroscuro →Frequently asked questions
What does chiaroscuro mean?
It means the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, especially in painting, to create the illusion of volume.
How do you pronounce chiaroscuro?
In British English it is roughly kee-ar-uh-SKOOR-oh, with the stress on the fourth syllable.
What language does chiaroscuro come from?
It comes from Italian, from chiaro meaning clear or bright and oscuro meaning dark.
