Burlesque, n.
1. Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque satire. Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first represents mean persons in the accouterments of heroes, the other describes great persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people. Addison.
2. An ironical or satirical composition intended to excite laughter, or to ridicule anything. The dull burlesque appeared with impudence, And pleased by novelty in spite of sense. Dryden.
3. A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion. Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to, national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust from such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that sacred institute Burke.
Syn. -- Mockery; farce; travesty; mimicry.
3 other Webster entries under this spelling
Burlesque, a.
Tending to excite laughter or contempt by extravagant images, or by a contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it, as when a trifling subject is treated with mock gravity; jocular; ironical. It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like that of Hudibras. Addison.
Burlesque, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burlesqued; p. pr. & vb. n. Burlesquing.]
To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language. They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and turned the expression he used into ridicule. Stillingfleet.
Burlesque, v. i.
To employ burlesque.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for burlesque; he lists it under caricature, wit.
Where he writes about it:
A caricature is a grotesque exaggeration of striking features or peculiarities, generally of a person; a burlesque treats any subject in an absurd or incongruous manner. — from caricature
A burlesque is written or acted; a caricature is more commonly in sketch or picture. — from caricature
A parody changes the subject, but keeps the style; a travesty keeps the subject, but changes the style; a burlesque does not hold itself to either subject or style; but is content with a general resemblance to what it may imitate. — from caricature
A caricature, parody, or travesty must have an original; a burlesque may be an independent composition. — from caricature
An account of a schoolboys' quarrel after the general manner of Homer's Iliad would be a burlesque; the real story of the Iliad told in newspaper style would be a travesty. — from caricature