cimabue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Academic, Artistic
Quick answer
What does “cimabue” mean?
The name of an important 13th-century Italian painter and mosaicist, considered a precursor to the Italian Renaissance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name of an important 13th-century Italian painter and mosaicist, considered a precursor to the Italian Renaissance.
Used metonymically to refer to early Italian art, the transition from Byzantine to Gothic style, or works attributed to him.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Pronunciation may vary slightly.
Connotations
Carries the same academic/art historical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to art history discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “cimabue” in a Sentence
Proper noun used in apposition (e.g., 'the artist Cimabue')Possessive form (Cimabue's)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in art history, Renaissance studies, and history courses.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in technical art history, conservation, and museum cataloguing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cimabue”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cimabue”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cimabue”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈsɪməbjuː/ (Sim-a-byoo).
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a cimabue' is incorrect).
- Confusing him with his pupil Giotto.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency proper noun used almost exclusively in art history contexts.
No, it is not standard usage. You would say 'in the style of Cimabue' or 'a Cimabue-esque quality' in informal artistic discussion, but it is not a recognised adjective.
According to tradition and early sources like Vasari, his most famous pupil was Giotto, who surpassed him and became a major figure of the early Renaissance.
The most common American pronunciation is /ˌtʃiːməˈbuːeɪ/ (chee-muh-BOO-ay).
The name of an important 13th-century Italian painter and mosaicist, considered a precursor to the Italian Renaissance.
Cimabue is usually formal, academic, artistic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a proper name.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SEE-ma-BOO-ay' - you SEE a painting, say 'BOO' to old Byzantine styles, and AY! starts the Renaissance.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BRIDGE or TRANSITION (from the stylised Byzantine art to the more naturalistic Gothic/Renaissance art).
Practice
Quiz
What is Cimabue best known for?