Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A school of abstract painting and sculpture that emphasizes extreme simplification of form, as by the use of basic shapes and monochromatic palettes of primary colors, objectivity, and anonymity of style.
  • noun Use of the fewest and barest essentials or elements, as in the arts, literature, or design.
  • noun Music A style of music marked by extreme simplification of rhythms, patterns, and harmonies, prolonged chordal or melodic repetitions, and often a trancelike effect.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun art A style of art that emphasises extreme simplicity of form.
  • noun music A style of music that emphasises extreme simplicity of rhythms and melodic forms to achieve a trancelike effect.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an art movement in sculpture and painting that began in the 1950s and emphasized extreme simplification of form and color

Etymologies

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  • JM just can’t get enough minimalism.

    July 13, 2011