gesso

noun

ges·​so ˈje-(ˌ)sō How to pronounce gesso (audio)
plural gessoes
1
: plaster of paris or gypsum prepared with glue for use in painting or making bas-reliefs
2
: a paste prepared by mixing whiting with size or glue and spread upon a surface to fit it for painting or gilding
gessoed adjective

Examples of gesso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The three were a match: they were all made using egg tempera and oil paint, along with two coats of gesso used as a base. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019 Each piece in the collection has repetitive organic forms as part of its design and comes in white gesso, natural Douglas fir and ebonized Douglas fir. Marques Harper, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024 And whereas most painters favor white gesso to prepare a canvas, Mckinney chooses an almost counterintuitive layer of black. M.h. Miller, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 The ground layer appears to be a single layer of lead white with no gesso. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Oct. 2023 Strawberry syrup and banana skin preserved in gesso offer bright, sticky-sweet contrast in some shadows. Jennifer Piejko, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 Ceramic mirrors by Mithe Espelt, a large-scale work by Lou Fink, and a gesso artwork by Jonathan Todryk dot the pink-and-terra-cotta walls. Helena Madden, ELLE Decor, 23 June 2023 The soft curves of the gesso chandelier by Currey & Company juxtapose the linearity of the cedar plank ceiling. Marni Elyse Katz, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2023 Today, canvases are typically prepared with a mixture called gesso. Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gesso.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, gypsum, from Latin gypsum

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gesso was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near gesso

Cite this Entry

“Gesso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gesso. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

gesso

noun
ges·​so ˈjes-ō How to pronounce gesso (audio)
plural gessoes
: a material like plaster used in art (as for modeling)

More from Merriam-Webster on gesso

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!