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
ˈje-(ˌ)sōd How to pronounce gesso (audio)
adjective

Examples of gesso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The final room of the exhibition features a group of golden tablets made with gold thread and gesso, suspended from the ceiling in a darkened semi-circular room. — Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 As evidenced in the Fondation Cartier retrospective, her innovative use of materials including cotton, gesso, horsehair, linen, gold leaf and palladium, combined with a mastery of ancient techniques such as braiding, knotting and weaving, enabled her to create vast three-dimensional textile pieces. — Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

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

Rhymes for gesso

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gesse
gesso
gest
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Cite this Entry

“Gesso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gesso. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gesso

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