burlesque
    adj 1: relating to or characteristic of a burlesque; "burlesque
           theater"
    n 1: a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor;
         consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes
         striptease)
    2: a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's
       style, usually in a humorous way [syn: parody, lampoon,
       spoof, sendup, mockery, takeoff, burlesque,
       travesty, charade, pasquinade, put-on]
    v 1: make a parody of; "The students spoofed the teachers" [syn:
         spoof, burlesque, parody]

Burlesque \Bur*lesque"\, 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.
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         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.
                                                  --Addison.
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Burlesque \Bur*lesque"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burlesqued; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Burlesquing.]
   To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation
   in action or in language.
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         They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and
         turned the expression he used into ridicule.
                                                  --Stillingfleet.
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Burlesque \Bur*lesque"\, n.
   1. Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque
      satire.
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            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.
                                                  --Addison.
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   2. An ironical or satirical composition intended to excite
      laughter, or to ridicule anything.
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            The dull burlesque appeared with impudence,
            And pleased by novelty in spite of sense. --Dryden.
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   3. A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross
      perversion.
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            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?                     --Burke.
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   Syn: Mockery; farce; travesty; mimicry.
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Burlesque \Bur*lesque"\, v. i.
   To employ burlesque.
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