burlesque

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: bur=lesque

CIDE DICTIONARY

burlesque, a. [F. burlesque, fr. It. burlesco, fr. burla jest, mockery, perh. for burrula, dim. of L. burrae trifles. See Bur.].

 Tending to excite laughter or contempt by extravagant images, or by a contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it, as when a trifling subject is treated with mock gravity; jocular; ironical.  [1913 Webster]
"It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like that of Hudibras."  [1913 Webster]

burlesque, n. 

•  Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque satire.  [1913 Webster]

  "Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first represents mean persons in the accouterments of heroes, the other describes great persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people."  [1913 Webster]
•  An ironical or satirical composition intended to excite laughter, or to ridicule anything.  [1913 Webster]

  "The dull burlesque appeared with impudence,
  And pleased by novelty in spite of sense."  [1913 Webster]
•  A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion.  [1913 Webster]

  "Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to, national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust from such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that sacred institute?"  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Mockery; farce; travesty; mimicry.

burlesque, v. t. 

 To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language.  [1913 Webster]
"They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and turned the expression he used into ridicule."  [1913 Webster]

burlesque, v. i. 

 To employ burlesque.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

burlesque, n., adj., & v.
--n.
1 a comic imitation, esp. in parody of a dramatic or literary work. b a performance or work of this kind. c bombast, mock-seriousness.
2 US a variety show, often including striptease.
--adj. of or in the nature of burlesque.
--v.tr. (burlesques, burlesqued, burlesquing) make or give a burlesque of.

Derivative

burlesquer n.

Etymology

F f. It. burlesco f. burla mockery

THESAURUS

burlesque

Atticism, Broadway, Thalia, aggrandize, aggrandizement, agile wit, amplification, amplify, anamorphosis, ape, arlequinade, bad likeness, ballyhoo, belie, big talk, black comedy, black humor, blowing up, botch, broad, broad comedy, build up, burletta, camouflage, camp, caricatural, caricature, carnival, carry too far, circus, color, comedie bouffe, comedie larmoyante, comedie rosse, comedietta, comedy, comedy ballet, comedy of humors, comedy of ideas, comedy of intrigue, comedy of manners, comedy of situation, comedy relief, comic, comic muse, comic opera, comic relief, comical, copy, dark comedy, daub, derisive, dilatation, dilation, disguise, distort, distortion, doggerel, domestic comedy, drama, draw the longbow, dry wit, dummy, duplication, enhancement, enlargement, entertainment industry, esprit, exaggerate, exaggerating, exaggeration, excess, exode, exorbitance, expansion, extravagance, extreme, facsimile, falsify, farce, farce comedy, farcical, garble, genteel comedy, go to extremes, grandiloquence, harlequinade, hatchet job, heightening, high camp, hit off on, huckstering, humor, hyperbole, hyperbolism, hyperbolize, imitate, imitation, inflation, inordinacy, irony, knockoff, lampoon, lay it on, legit, legitimate stage, light comedy, low camp, low comedy, macaronic, magnification, magnify, make much of, malicious parody, mime, miscolor, misquote, misreport, misrepresent, misstate, misteach, mock, mock-heroic, mock-up, mockery, model, musical, musical comedy, nimble wit, off Broadway, off-off-Broadway, opera buffa, overcharge, overdo, overdraw, overemphasis, overestimate, overestimation, overkill, overpraise, overreach, overreact, oversell, overspeak, overstate, overstatement, overstress, paraphrase, parodic, parody, pasquil, pasquin, pasquinade, pastiche, pervert, pile it on, playland, pleasantry, poison pen, pretty wit, prodigality, profuseness, puff, puffery, puffing up, quick wit, raw comedy, ready wit, realistic comedy, repertory drama, replica, representation, reproduction, romantic comedy, salt, sarcasm, satire, satiric, satirical, satirize, satyr play, savor of wit, scratch, scribble, sensationalism, sentimental comedy, sham, show biz, show business, situation comedy, slant, slapstick, slapstick comedy, slapstick humor, spoof, squib, stage world, stagedom, stageland, stock, strawhat, strawhat circuit, stretch, stretch the truth, stretching, striptease, subtle wit, summer stock, superlative, take off, take off on, take-off, takeoff, talk big, talk in superlatives, tall talk, the boards, the footlights, the scenes, the stage, the theater, theater world, theatromania, theatrophobia, tout, touting, tragicomedy, tragicomic, travesty, twist, understate, variety, vaudeville, version, visual humor, warp, wicked imitation, wit, wrench

ROGET THESAURUS

burlesque

The Drama

N the drama, the stage, the theater, the play, film the film, movies, motion pictures, cinema, cinematography, theatricals, dramaturgy, histrionic art, buskin, sock, cothurnus, Melpomene and Thalia, Thespis, play, drama, stage play, piece, five-act play, tragedy, comedy, opera, vaudeville, comedietta, lever de rideau, interlude, afterpiece, exode, farce, divertissement, extravaganza, burletta, harlequinade, pantomime, burlesque, opera bouffe, ballet, spectacle, masque, drame comedie drame, melodrama, melodrame, comidie larmoyante, sensation drama, tragicomedy, farcical-comedy, monodrame monologue, duologue trilogy, charade, proverbs, mystery, miracle play, musical, musical comedy, western, horse opera, flick, spy film, love story, adventure film, documentary, nature film, pornographic film, smoker, skin flick, X-rated film, act, scene, tableau, induction, introduction, prologue, epilogue, libretto, performance, representation, mise en scene, stagery, jeu de theatre, acting, gesture, impersonation, stage business, gag, buffoonery, light comedy, genteel comedy, low comedy, theater, playhouse, opera house, house, music hall, amphitheater, circus, hippodrome, theater in the round, puppet show, fantoccini, marionettes, Punch and Judy, auditory, auditorium, front of the house, stalls, boxes, pit, gallery, parquet, greenroom, coulisses, flat, drop, drop scene, wing, screen, side scene, transformation scene, curtain, act drop, proscenium, stage, scene, scenery, the boards, trap, mezzanine floor, flies, floats, footlights, offstage, orchestra, theatrical costume, theatrical properties, movie studio, back lot, on location, part, role, character, dramatis personae, repertoire, actor, thespian, player, method actor, stage player, strolling player, stager, performer, mime, mimer, artists, comedian, tragedian, tragedienne, Roscius, star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol, supporting actor, supporting cast, ham, hamfatter, masker, pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine, punchinello, pulcinello, pulcinella, extra, bit- player, walk-on role, cameo appearance, mute, figurante, general utility, super, supernumerary, company, first tragedian, prima donna, protagonist, jeune premier, debutant, debutante, light comedian, genteel comedian, low comedian, walking gentleman, amoroso, heavy father, ingenue, jeune veuve, mummer, guiser, guisard, gysart, masque, mountebank, Jack Pudding, tumbler, posture master, acrobat, contortionist, ballet dancer, ballet girl, chorus singer, coryphee danseuse, property man, costumier, machinist, prompter, call boy, manager, director, stage manager, acting manager, producer, entrepreneur, impresario, backer, investor, angel, dramatic author, dramatic writer, play writer, playwright, dramatist, mimographer, dramatic, theatric, theatrical, scenic, histrionic, comic, tragic, buskined, farcical, tragicomic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy, on the stage, on the boards, on film, before the floats, before an audience, behind the scenes, fere totus mundus exercet histrionem, suit the action to the word, the word to the action, the play's the thing, to wake the soul by tender strokes of art.

Imitation

VB imitate, copy, mirror, reflect, reproduce, repeat, do like, echo, reecho, catch, transcribe, match, parallel, mock, take off, mimic, ape, simulate, impersonate, personate, act, represent, counterfeit, parody, travesty, caricature, lampoon, burlesque, follow in the steps of, tread in the steps, follow in the footsteps of, follow in the wake of, take pattern by, follow suit, follow the example of, walk in the shoes of, take a leaf out of another's book, strike in with, follow suit, take after, model after, emulate.

Copy

N copy, facsimile, counterpart, effigies, effigy, form, likeness, image, picture, photo, xerox, similitude, semblance, ectype, photo offset, electrotype, imitation, model, representation, adumbration, study, portrait, resemblance, duplicate, reproduction, cast, tracing, reflex, reflexion, reflection, shadow, echo, transcript, transcription, recording, scan, chip off the old block, reprint, new printing, rechauffe, apograph, fair copy, parody, caricature, burlesque, travesty, travestie, paraphrase, derivative, derivation, modification, expansion, extension, revision, second edition, servile copy, servile imitation, plagiarism, counterfeit, fake, pasticcio, faithful, lifelike, close, conscientious, unoriginal, imitative, derivative.

Ridiculousness

N ridiculousness, comicality, oddity, extravagance, drollery, farce, comedy, burlesque, buffoonery, frippery, doggerel verses, absurdity, bombast, anticlimax, bathos, eccentricity, monstrosity, laughingstock, ridiculous, ludicrous, comical, droll, funny, laughable, pour rire, grotesque, farcical, odd, whimsical, whimsical as a dancing bear, fanciful, fantastic, queer, rum, quizzical, quaint, bizarre, screaming, eccentric, strange, outlandish, out of the way, baroque, weird, awkward, extravagant, outre, monstrous, preposterous, bombastic, inflated, stilted, burlesque, mock heroic, drollish, seriocomic, tragicomic, gimcrack, contemptible, doggerel, ironical, risible, risum teneatis amici, rideret Heraclitus, du sublime au ridicule il n'y a qu'un pas, ridiculousness, comicality, oddity, extravagance, drollery, farce, comedy, burlesque, buffoonery, frippery, doggerel verses, absurdity, bombast, anticlimax, bathos, eccentricity, monstrosity, laughingstock, ridiculous, ludicrous, comical, droll, funny, laughable, pour rire, grotesque, farcical, odd, whimsical, whimsical as a dancing bear, fanciful, fantastic, queer, rum, quizzical, quaint, bizarre, screaming, eccentric, strange, outlandish, out of the way, baroque, weird, awkward, extravagant, outre, monstrous, preposterous, bombastic, inflated, stilted, burlesque, mock heroic, drollish, seriocomic, tragicomic, gimcrack, contemptible, doggerel, ironical, risible, risum teneatis amici, rideret Heraclitus, du sublime au ridicule il n'y a qu'un pas.

Ridicule

N ridicule, derision, sardonic smile, sardonic grin, irrision, scoffing, mockery, quiz, banter, irony, persiflage, raillery, chaff, badinage, quizzing, asteism, squib, satire, skit, quip, quib, grin, parody, burlesque, travesty, travestie, farce, caricature, buffoonery, practical joke, horseplay, scorn, contempt, derisory, derisive, mock, mocking, sarcastic, ironic, ironical, quizzical, burlesque, Hudibrastic, scurrilous, in ridicule, ridicule, derision, sardonic smile, sardonic grin, irrision, scoffing, mockery, quiz, banter, irony, persiflage, raillery, chaff, badinage, quizzing, asteism, squib, satire, skit, quip, quib, grin, parody, burlesque, travesty, travestie, farce, caricature, buffoonery, practical joke, horseplay, scorn, contempt, derisory, derisive, mock, mocking, sarcastic, ironic, ironical, quizzical, burlesque, Hudibrastic, scurrilous, in ridicule.

VB ridicule, deride, mock, taunt, snigger, laugh in one's sleeve, tease, badinage, banter, rally, chaff, joke, twit, quiz, roast, haze, tehee, fleer, show up, play upon, play tricks upon, fool to the top of one's bent, laugh at, grin at, smile at, poke fun at, satirize, parody, caricature, burlesque, travesty, turn into ridicule, make merry with, make fun of, make game of, make a fool of, make an April fool of, rally, scoff, raise a laugh, play the fool, make a fool of oneself.

Disrespect

VB hold in disrespect, misprize, disregard, slight, trifle with, set at naught, pass by, push aside, overlook, turn one's back upon, laugh in one's sleeve, be disrespectful, be discourteous, treat with disrespect, set down, put down, browbeat, dishonor, desecrate, insult, affront, outrage, speak slightingly of, disparage, vilipend, vilify, call names, throw dirt, fling dirt, drag through the mud, point at, indulge in personalities, make mouths, make faces, bite the thumb, take by the beard, pluck by the beard, toss in a blanket, tar and feather, have in derision, hold in derision, deride, scoff, barrack, sneer, laugh at, snigger, ridicule, gibe, mock, jeer, hiss, hoot, taunt, twit, niggle, gleek, gird, flout, fleer, roast, turn into ridicule, burlesque, laugh to scorn, smoke, fool, make game of, make a fool of, make an April fool of, play a practical joke, lead one a dance, run the rig upon, have a fling at, scout, mob.

Misrepresentation

N misrepresentation, distortion, caricatura, exaggeration, daubing, bad likeness, daub, sign painting, scratch, caricature, anamorphosis, burlesque, falsification, misstatement, parody, lampoon, take-off, travesty, misrepresented.

VB misrepresent, distort, overdraw, exaggerate, caricature, daub, burlesque, parody, travesty.