sfumatura

nuance, shade

noun sfoo-mah-TOO-rah Rare

Origin: From sfumare (to shade off), related to fumo (smoke).

Also means

tint, hue

Usage Note

Sfumatura comes from the art technique sfumato (used famously by Leonardo da Vinci) and refers to a subtle gradation of color, tone, or meaning. In non-artistic contexts it means a nuance or subtle distinction (le sfumature del linguaggio = the nuances of language). The plural is sfumature. It is a high-register word in both visual arts and linguistics.

Examples

"Questo tessuto ha belle sfumature di blu."

Natural Translation

This fabric has beautiful shades of blue.

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