sunburst

views updated May 11 2018

sunburst.
1. Any collection of rods, normally gilded, representing sunbeams, radiating from a centre. In religious contexts it is common in Baroque architecture, surrounding e.g. a dove, representing the Holy Spirit.

2. In a secular context, the rods occur around the head of e.g. Apollo, in Apolline ornament of the Louis Quatorze style.

3. Fanlight.

sunburst

views updated Jun 08 2018

sun·burst / ˈsənˌbərst/ • n. a sudden brief appearance of the full sun from behind clouds. ∎  a decoration or ornament resembling the sun and its rays: [as adj.] a pair of sunburst diamond earrings. ∎  a pattern of irregular concentric bands of color with the brightest at the center.