arts
English meaning: Arts
Definition
The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colours, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the senses and emotions, usually specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.
Example
“There is a debate as to whether graffiti is art or vandalism.”
Another example: “He has a black belt and teaches several martial arts.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Plural of 'art', or a collective term for creative and academic disciplines. Covers fine arts ('the visual arts'), performing arts, the humanities ('arts and sciences'), and skills ('martial arts'). Common in education and culture. The phrase 'the arts' refers to creative culture generally.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
Plural of 'art', from Old French 'art', from Latin 'ars' (skill, craft); the collective cultural sense developed in the modern period.
Synonyms
- humanities
- fine arts
- liberal arts
- creative arts
Antonyms / Opposites
Related Words
Common Collocations
- the arts
- fine arts
- martial arts
- performing arts
- arts and crafts
- liberal arts
Word Forms
art (n, sing.); arts (pl.); artistic (adj); artist (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B