chi·a·ro·scu·ro (kē-är'ə-skʊr'ō, -skyʊr'ō)
n., pl., -ros. In all senses also called claire-obscure.

1. The technique of using light and shade in pictorial representation.
2. The arrangement of light and dark elements in a pictorial work of art.
3. 1. A woodcut technique in which several blocks are used to print different shades of a color.
   2. A woodcut print made by this technique.

[Italian : chiaro, bright, light (from Latin clārus, clear) + oscuro, dark (from Latin obscūrus).]

chiaroscurist chi·a'ro·scu'rist n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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