avant-garde

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations 1.4 Adjective 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.5 See also 2 French 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Pronunciation 2.3 Noun

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From French avant-garde (“‘vanguard’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /æˈvãt.gɑː(ɹ)d/, /ˈævn̩t.gɑː(ɹ)d/

[edit] Noun

avant-garde (plural avant-gardes)

1. (obsolete) The vanguard of an army or other force.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book I.15:

     Lyonses and Pharyaunce had the aduant garde, and they two knyghtes mette with kyng Idres and his felauship, and there began a grete medele of brekyng of speres and smytynge of swerdys with sleynge of men and horses.

2. Any group of people who invent or promote new techniques or concepts, especially in the arts.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

avant-garde (comparative more avant-garde, superlative most avant-garde)

1. Innovative, pioneering, especially when extremely or obviously so.

   It was a very avant-garde production.

[edit] Synonyms

• trendy
• underground
• See also WikiSaurus:innovation

[edit] See also

• leading edge

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[edit] French

[edit] Etymology

From avant (before) and garde (guard).

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /a.vɑ̃.ɡaʁd/

[edit] Noun

avant-garde f. (plural avant-gardes)

1. (military) Vanguard
2. (figuratively) Avant-garde