cameo

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: cam=e=o

CIDE DICTIONARY

cameo, n. [It. cammeo; akin to F. camée, camaïeu, Sp. camafeo, LL. camaeus, camahutus; of unknown origin.].

 A carving in relief, esp. one on a small scale used as a jewel for personal adornment, or like.  [1913 Webster]
" Most cameos are carved in a material which has layers of different colors, such stones as the onyx and sardonyx, and various kinds of shells, being used. The classical cameos made in Italy are carved on a seashell (see cameo conch, below), having an olive figure carved from the inner layer of the shell in relief on the white background of the outer layer of the shell."  [1913 Webster]

Cameo conch (Zoöl.), a large, marine, univalve shell, esp. Cassis cameo, Cassis rua, and allied species, used for cutting cameos. See Quern conch.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

cameo, n. (pl. -os)
1 a a small piece of onyx or other hard stone carved in relief with a background of a different colour. b a similar relief design using other materials.
2 a a short descriptive literary sketch or acted scene. b a small character part in a play or film, usu. brief and played by a distinguished actor.

Etymology

ME f. OF camahieu and med.L cammaeus

THESAURUS

cameo

anaglyph, bas-relief, boss, cameo glass, catalog, cataloging, cavo-rilievo, character, character sketch, characterization, cut glass, delineation, depiction, description, details, embossment, evocation, glyph, glyptograph, graphic account, high relief, image, imagery, impression, intaglio, intaglio rilevato, intaglio rilievo, itemization, limning, low relief, mask, medal, medallion, particularization, photograph, picture, plaquette, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, profile, relief, relievo, rendering, rendition, representation, sculptured glass, sketch, specification, vignette, vivid description, word painting

ROGET THESAURUS

cameo

Convexity

N convexity, prominence, projection, swelling, gibbosity, bilge, bulge, protuberance, protrusion, camber, cahot, thank-ye-ma'am, swell, intumescence, tumour, tumor, tubercle, tuberosity, excrescence, hump, hunch, bunch, boss, embossment, hub, hubble, tooth, knob, elbow, process, apophysis, condyle, bulb, node, nodule, nodosity, tongue, dorsum, bump, clump, sugar loaf, bow, mamelon, molar, belly, corporation, pot belly, gut, withers, back, shoulder, lip, flange, pimple, zit, wen, wheel, papula, pustule, pock, proud flesh, growth, sarcoma, caruncle, corn, wart, pappiloma, furuncle, polypus, fungus, fungosity, exostosis, bleb, blister, blain, boil, airbubble, blob, papule, verruca, papilla, nipple, teat, tit, titty, boob, knocker, pap, breast, dug, mammilla, proboscis, nose, neb, beak, snout, nozzle, schnoz, peg, button, stud, ridge, rib, jutty, trunnion, snag, cupola, dome, arch, balcony, eaves, pilaster, relief, relievo, cameo, bassorilievo, mezzorilevo, altorivievo, low relief, bas relief, high relief, hill, cape, promontory, mull, forehead, foreland, point of land, mole, jetty, hummock, ledge, spur, naze, ness, convex, prominent, protuberant, projecting, bossed, embossed, bossy, nodular, bunchy, clavate, clavated, claviform, hummocky, moutonne, mammiliform, papulous, papilose, hemispheric, bulbous, bowed, arched, bold, bellied, tuberous, tuberculous, tumous, cornute, odontoid, lentiform, lenticular, gibbous, club shaped, hubby, hubbly, knobby, papillose, saddle-shaped, selliform, subclavate, torose, ventricose, verrucose, salient, in relief, raised, repousse, bloated, (expanded).

Sculpture

N sculpture, insculpture, carving, statuary, high relief, low relief, bas relief, relief, relieve, bassorilievo, altorilievo, mezzorilievo, intaglio, anaglyph, medal, medallion, cameo, marble, bronze, terra cotta, papier-mache, ceramic ware, pottery, porcelain, china, earthenware, cloisonne, enamel, faience, Laocoon, satsuma, statue, cast, glyptotheca, sculptured, v, in relief, anaglyptic, ceroplastic, ceramic, parian, marble, xanthian.