In the 17th century, Baroque was a style of artistic expression marked by its juxtaposition of contrasting elements. Painting, sculpture, architecture, and music described as Baroque often use complex forms and bold ornamentation.
In its day, the baroque style was a much admired standard. Today, the word is often used to describe something that is ornamental to an extravagant or bizarre degree.
Baroque can also be used to describe an irregularly shaped gem. This meaning is closest to the word's roots. In the 1700s, baroque was borrowed from the French, which in turn was derived from the Portuguese barroco (a pearl of irregular shape).