Subject dictionary

Art and design

Visual culture, creative practice, design principles and artistic movements.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Archnoun

(architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it

Architectural ornamentnoun

(architecture) something added to a building to improve its appearance

Architecturenoun

the discipline dealing with the principles of design and construction and ornamentation of fine buildings; "architecture and eloquence are mixed…

Artnoun

the creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that a…

Art formnoun

(architecture) a form of artistic expression (such as writing or painting or architecture)

Artistic creationnoun

the creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that a…

Artistic productionnoun

the creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that a…

Atticnoun

(architecture) a low wall at the top of the entablature; hides the roof

Columnnoun

(architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure

Columniationnoun

(architecture) the arrangement of columns (especially freestanding columns) in a structure

Congenoun

(architecture) a concave molding

Congeenoun

(architecture) a concave molding

Corbelnoun

(architecture) a triangular bracket of brick or stone (usually of slight extent)

Corbel archnoun

(architecture) an arch constructed of masonry courses that are corbelled until they meet

Corbel stepnoun

(architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall

Corbie gablenoun

(architecture) a gable having corbie-steps or corbel steps

Corbie-stepnoun

(architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall

Corbiestepnoun

(architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall

Cornernoun

(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone

Crow stepnoun

(architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall

Cymanoun

(architecture) a molding for a cornice; in profile it is shaped like an S (partly concave and partly convex)

Cymatiumnoun

(architecture) a molding for a cornice; in profile it is shaped like an S (partly concave and partly convex)

Designnoun

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan); "he contributed to the design of a new instrument"

Designingnoun

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan); "he contributed to the design of a new instrument"

Dripnoun

(architecture) a projection from a cornice or sill designed to protect the area below from rainwater (as over a window or doorway)

Drip moldnoun

(architecture) a projection from a cornice or sill designed to protect the area below from rainwater (as over a window or doorway)

Drip mouldnoun

(architecture) a projection from a cornice or sill designed to protect the area below from rainwater (as over a window or doorway)

Entablaturenoun

(architecture) the structure consisting of the part of a classical temple above the columns between a capital and the roof

Foliagenoun

(architecture) leaf-like architectural ornament

Foliationnoun

(architecture) leaf-like architectural ornament

Hipnoun

(architecture) the exterior angle formed by the junction of a sloping side and a sloping end of a roof

Modillionnoun

(architecture) one of a set of ornamental brackets under a cornice

Ordernoun

(architecture) one of original three styles of Greek architecture distinguished by the type of column and entablature used or a style developed…

Paintingnoun

creating a picture with paints; "he studied painting and sculpture for many years"

Piernoun

(architecture) a vertical supporting structure (as a portion of wall between two doors or windows)

Pillarnoun

(architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure

Pinnaclenoun

(architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress or tower

Quoinnoun

(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone

Rhythmnoun

(architecture) the repetitive use of a group of visual elements to establish a recognizable pattern

Scapenoun

(architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column

Shaftnoun

(architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column

Termnoun

(architecture) a statue or a human bust or an animal carved out of the top of a square pillar; originally used as a boundary marker in ancient R…

Terminal figurenoun

(architecture) a statue or a human bust or an animal carved out of the top of a square pillar; originally used as a boundary marker in ancient R…

Terminusnoun

(architecture) a statue or a human bust or an animal carved out of the top of a square pillar; originally used as a boundary marker in ancient R…

Trussnoun

(architecture) a triangular bracket of brick or stone (usually of slight extent)

Vaultingnoun

(architecture) a vaulted structure; "arches and vaulting"

Acenoun

the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number; "he has the one but will need a two and three to go with it"; "they had lunch a…

Agate linenoun

space for one line of print (one column wide and 1/14 inch deep) used to measure advertising

Alignmentnoun

the act of adjusting or aligning the parts of a device in relation to each other

Aperturenoun

an man-made opening; usually small

Architectnoun

someone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)

Architectural plannoun

scale drawing of a structure; "the plans for City Hall were on file"

Artnoun

a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation; "the art of conversation"; "it's quite an art"

Artnoun

photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication; "the publisher was responsible for all the artwork in the book"

Artistnoun

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

Artistrynoun

a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation; "the art of conversation"; "it's quite an art"

Artworknoun

photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication; "the publisher was responsible for all the artwork in the book"

Balancenoun

harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design); "in all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the…

Baroquenoun

elaborate and extensive ornamentation in decorative art and architecture that flourished in Europe in the 17th century

Baroquenessnoun

elaborate and extensive ornamentation in decorative art and architecture that flourished in Europe in the 17th century

Billnoun

a sign posted in a public place as an advertisement; "a poster advertised the coming attractions"

Brandingnoun

the act of stigmatizing

Brushverb

touch lightly and briefly; "He brushed the wall lightly"

Buildingnoun

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it wa…

Cameranoun

equipment for taking photographs (usually consisting of a lightproof box with a lens at one end and light-sensitive film at the other)

Canvasnoun

an oil painting on canvas fabric

Canvassnoun

an oil painting on canvas fabric

Cardnoun

a sign posted in a public place as an advertisement; "a poster advertised the coming attractions"

Carveverb

form by carving; "Carve a flower from the ice"

Carvernoun

an artist who creates sculptures

Carvingnoun

creating figures or designs in three dimensions

Casenoun

a specific size and style of type within a type family

Castnoun

the visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate cast of his features"

Castingnoun

the act of creating something by casting it in a mold

Charcoalnoun

a stick of black carbon material used for drawing

Clothnoun

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitranspa…

Colornoun

the appearance of objects (or light sources) described in terms of a person's perception of their hue and lightness (or brightness) and saturati…

Colornoun

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengt…

Coloringnoun

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengt…

Colournoun

the appearance of objects (or light sources) described in terms of a person's perception of their hue and lightness (or brightness) and saturati…

Colournoun

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengt…

Colouringnoun

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengt…

Composingnoun

the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole; "harmonious composition is essential in…

Compositionnoun

the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole; "harmonious composition is essential in…

Compositionnoun

art and technique of printing with movable type

Constructionnoun

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazi…

Contemporaryadjective

characteristic of the present; "contemporary trends in design"; "the role of computers in modern-day medicine"

Contrastverb

to show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"

Control gridnoun

an electrode placed between the cathode and anode of a vacuum tube to control the flow of electrons through the tube

Counterpointverb

to show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"

Creative personnoun

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

Cubismnoun

an artistic movement in France beginning in 1907 that featured surfaces of geometrical planes

Designnoun

a decorative or artistic work; "the coach had a design on the doors"

Designernoun

someone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)

Divisionnoun

one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole; "the written part of the exam"; "the fina…

Documentaryadjective

(of film, television, radio, or photography) depicting a real-life event using images or interviews with people involved in the event

Draftingnoun

the creation of artistic pictures or diagrams; "he learned drawing from his father"

Draftsmanshipnoun

the creation of artistic pictures or diagrams; "he learned drawing from his father"

Drawingnoun

the creation of artistic pictures or diagrams; "he learned drawing from his father"

Edificenoun

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it wa…

Elevationnoun

drawing of an exterior of a structure

Embossmentnoun

sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding background

Embroiderynoun

decorative needlework

Emphasisnoun

special and significant stress by means of position or repetition e.g.

Exposurenoun

the intensity of light falling on a photographic film or plate; "he used the wrong exposure"

Expressionismnoun

an art movement early in the 20th century; the artist's subjective expression of inner experiences was emphasized; an inner feeling was expresse…

Fabricnoun

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitranspa…

Facadenoun

the face or front of a building

Facenoun

a specific size and style of type within a type family

Fancyworknoun

decorative needlework

Fashionnoun

how something is done or how it happens; "her dignified manner"; "his rapid manner of talking"; "their nomadic mode of existence"; "in the chara…

Figurenoun

a decorative or artistic work; "the coach had a design on the doors"

Fontnoun

a specific size and style of type within a type family

formnoun

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality; "sculpture is a form of art"; "what kinds of desserts are there?"

formnoun

a perceptual structure; "the composition presents problems for students of musical form"; "a visual pattern must include not only objects but th…

formnoun

the visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate cast of his features"

Fountnoun

a specific size and style of type within a type family

Frontagenoun

the face or front of a building

Frontalnoun

the face or front of a building

Fusainnoun

a stick of black carbon material used for drawing