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art1

Syllabification: (art)
Pronunciation: /ärt/
Translate art | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of art

noun

  • 1the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power:the art of the Renaissance great art is concerned with moral imperfections she studied art in Paris
  • works produced by human creative skill and imagination:his collection of modern art an exhibition of Mexican art [as modifier]:an art critic
  • creative activity resulting in the production of paintings, drawings, or sculpture:she’s good at art
  • 2 (the arts) the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance:the visual arts [in singular]:the art of photography
  • 3 (arts) subjects of study primarily concerned with the processes and products of human creativity and social life, such as languages, literature, and history (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects):the belief that the arts and sciences were incompatible the Faculty of Arts
  • 4a skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice:the art of conversation

Phrases

art for art's sake

used to convey the idea that the chief or only aim of a work of art is the self-expression of the individual artist who creates it.

art is long, life is short

proverb there is so much knowledge (or skill) to acquire that a lifetime is not sufficient.

art of war

the strategy, tactics, and techniques of combat.

Origin:

Middle English: via Old French from Latin ars, art-

art in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of art in the British & World English dictionary