noun
1.
the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.
2.
the class of objects subject to aesthetic criteria; works of art collectively, as paintings, sculptures, or drawings: a museum of art; an art collection. See fine art, commercial art.
3.
a field, genre, or category of art: Dance is an art.
4.
the fine arts collectively, often excluding architecture: art and architecture.
5.
any field using the skills or techniques of art: advertising art; industrial art.
6.
a branch of learning or university study, especially one of the fine arts or the humanities, as music, philosophy, or literature: She was adept at the arts of music and painting; I've always felt an affinity towards the visual arts, though I studied art of philosophy.
7.
arts.
a.
(used with a singular verb) the humanities, as distinguished from the sciences and technical fields: a college of arts and sciences.
b.
8.
skill in conducting any human activity: a master at the art of conversation; From my mother, I learned the art of perfectly cooked pasta. Synonyms: knack, facility, technical skill, skillfulness, know-how.
9.
a.
the principles or methods governing any craft or branch of learning: the art of baking; the art of selling. Synonyms: craft, technique, skill; procedure, method, way; fine points, subtleties.
b.
See also term of art. the craft, trade, or profession using these principles or methods.
10.
skilled workmanship, execution, or agency, as distinguished from nature.
11.
trickery; cunning: glib and devious art. Synonyms: craftiness, guile, slyness, wiliness, artfulness, intrigue, machination, scheming.
12.
studied action; artificiality in behavior. Synonyms: deceit, deception, duplicity, imposture, falsehood. Antonyms: frankness, candor, openness, artlessness, ingenuousness, sincerity; truthfulness, honesty.
13.
an artifice or artful device: the innumerable arts and wiles of politics. Synonyms: contrivance, scheme, trick, tactic, stratagem, maneuver; subterfuge, ruse, dodge, feint, wile.
14.
(in printed matter) illustrative or decorative material: Is there any art with the copy for this story?
15.
Archaic. science, learning, or scholarship.
16.
art up, to improve the aesthetic quality of (something) through some form of art: This dress is so plain, it could use some arting up. I had an interior designer art up my apartment.
00:10
Arts
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English < Old French, accusative of ars < Latin ars (nominative), artem (accusative) ‘skill, craft, craftsmanship’
1175–1225; Middle English < Old French, accusative of ars < Latin ars (nominative), artem (accusative) ‘skill, craft, craftsmanship’
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To arts
Collins
World English Dictionary
art1 (ɑːt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a. the creation of works of beauty or other special significance |
| b. (as modifier): an art movement | |
| 2. | the exercise of human skill (as distinguished from nature) |
| 3. | imaginative skill as applied to representations of the natural world or figments of the imagination |
| 4. | a. the products of man's creative activities; works of art collectively, esp of the visual arts, sometimes also music, drama, dance, and literature |
| b. arts See also fine art (as modifier): an art gallery | |
| 5. | excellence or aesthetic merit of conception or execution as exemplified by such works |
| 6. | any branch of the visual arts, esp painting |
| 7. | (modifier) intended to be artistic or decorative: art needlework |
| 8. | a. any field using the techniques of art to display artistic qualities: advertising art |
| b. (as modifier): an art film | |
| 9. | journalism photographs or other illustrations in a newspaper, etc |
| 10. | method, facility, or knack: the art of threading a needle; the art of writing letters |
| 11. | the system of rules or principles governing a particular human activity: the art of government |
| 12. | artfulness; cunning |
| 13. | get something down to a fine art to become highly proficient at something through practice |
| [C13: from Old French, from Latin ars craftsmanship] | |
| art2 (ɑːt) | |
| —vb | |
| archaic ( | |
| [Old English eart, part of bēon to | |
| ART | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| assisted reproductive technology | |
| arts (ɑːts) | |
| —pl n | |
| 1. | a. the arts imaginative, creative, and nonscientific branches of knowledge considered collectively, esp as studied academically |
| b. (as modifier): an arts degree | |
| 2. | See fine art |
| 3. | cunning or crafty actions or plots; schemes |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
art
early 13c., "skill as a result of learning or practice," from O.Fr. art, from L. artem (nom. ars) "art, skill, craft," from PIE *ar-ti- (cf. Skt. rtih "manner, mode;" Gk. arti "just," artios "complete;" Armenian arnam "make;" Ger. art "manner, mode"), from base *ar- "fit together, join" (see
arm (1)). In M.E. usually with sense of "skill in scholarship and learning" (c.1300), especially in the seven sciences, or liberal arts. This sense remains in Bachelor of Arts, etc. Meaning "human workmanship" (as opposed to nature) is from late 14c. Sense of "cunning and trickery" first attested c.1600. Meaning "skill in creative arts" is first recorded 1620; esp. of painting, sculpture, etc., from 1660s. Broader sense of the word remains in artless (1580s). As an adj. meaning "produced with conscious artistry (as opposed to popular or folk) it is attested from 1890, possibly from infl. of Ger. kunstlied "art song" (cf. art film, 1960; art rock, c.1970). Fine arts, "those which appeal to the mind and the imagination" first recorded 1767. Expression art for art's sake (1836) translates Fr. l'art pour l'art. First record of art critic is from 1865. Arts and crafts "decorative design and handcraft" first attested in the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, founded in London, 1888.
"Supreme art is a traditional statement of certain heroic and religious truths, passed on from age to age, modified by individual genius, but never abandoned. The revolt of individualism came because the tradition had become degraded, or rather because a spurious copy had been accepted in its stead." [William Butler Yeats]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
Be
The symbol for the element beryllium.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
| Be
The symbol for beryllium. |
beryllium  (bə-rĭl'ē-əm) Pronunciation Key
Symbol Be A hard, lightweight, steel-gray metallic element of the alkaline-earth group, found in various minerals, especially beryl. It has a high melting point and is corrosion-resistant. Beryllium is used to make sturdy, lightweight alloys and aerospace structural materials. It is also used as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors. Atomic number 4; atomic weight 9.0122; melting point 1,278°C; boiling point 2,970°C; specific gravity 1.848; valence 2. See Periodic Table. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
ART
|
| ARTS automated radar terminal system |
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
The arts of agriculture and pastoralism bring about direct modification of the environment in time and space.
When the summer throngs depart, you get this seaside arts town and its beaches all to yourself.
Molecular gastronomy aims to apply the piercing clarity of science to the culinary arts.
There's one sure way of getting good at language arts.
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