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bassorilievo

bas-relief

noun bahs-soh-ree-LYEH-voh Rare

Origin: From basso (low) + rilievo (relief), calqued from French bas-relief.

Usage Note

Bassorilievo is the standard Italian term for a bas-relief — a sculptural technique where figures project only slightly from a flat background. It is contrasted with altorilievo (high-relief) and mezzorilievo (medium-relief). The plural is bassorilievi.

Examples

"Il fregio del tempio è decorato con bassorilievi."

Natural Translation

The temple frieze is decorated with bas-reliefs.

Literal Translation

The frieze of-the temple is decorated with bas-reliefs.

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