art1

[ahrt] /ɑrt/
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.
  1. (used with a singular verb) the humanities, as distinguished from the sciences and technical fields:
    a college of arts and sciences.
  2. (used with a plural verb) liberal arts:
    Faculty of Arts.
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.
  1. 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.
  2. the craft, trade, or profession using these principles or methods.
See also term of art.
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.
Verb phrases
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.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English < Old French, accusative of ars < Latin ars (nominative), artem (accusative) ‘skill, craft, craftsmanship’

Art

[ahrt] /ɑrt/
noun
1.
a male given name, form of Arthur.
Examples from the web for arts
  • Autumn is also prime time for major museum exhibits and the performing arts.
  • When the summer throngs depart, you get this seaside arts town and its beaches all to yourself.
  • Each ethnic group has its own style of mask making, ceramic arts and wood carving.
  • Don't accuse the mixed martial arts world of taking the summer off.
  • The results reveal the comparative strengths, advantages, and limitations of the various martial arts styles.
  • Moreover, they demonstrate that research in the visual arts can result in important findings about the visual system.
  • There's one sure way of getting good at language arts.
  • It is the arts after all, better than almost any other pursuit, that foster a connection between humans from all times and places.
  • Well done healing arts build your bodies health, strengthening immunity and resilience in many ways.
  • The arts of agriculture and pastoralism bring about direct modification of the environment in time and space.
British Dictionary definitions for arts

arts

/ɑːts/
plural noun
1.
  1. the arts, imaginative, creative, and nonscientific branches of knowledge considered collectively, esp as studied academically
  2. (as modifier): an arts degree
2.
See fine art
3.
cunning or crafty actions or plots; schemes

art1

/ɑːt/
noun
1.
  1. the creation of works of beauty or other special significance
  2. (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.
  1. the products of man's creative activities; works of art collectively, esp of the visual arts, sometimes also music, drama, dance, and literature
  2. (as modifier): an art gallery See also arts, fine art
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.
  1. any field using the techniques of art to display artistic qualities: advertising art
  2. (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
See also arts
Word Origin
C13: from Old French, from Latin ars craftsmanship

art2

/ɑːt/
verb
1.
(archaic) (used with the pronoun thou) a singular form of the present tense (indicative mood) of be1
Word Origin
Old English eart, part of bēon to be

ART

abbreviation
1.
assisted reproductive technology
Word Origin and History for arts

art

n.

early 13c., "skill as a result of learning or practice," from Old French art (10c.), from Latin artem (nominative ars) "work of art; practical skill; a business, craft," from PIE *ar-ti- (cf. Sanskrit rtih "manner, mode;" Greek arti "just," artios "complete, suitable," artizein "to prepare;" Latin artus "joint;" Armenian arnam "make;" German art "manner, mode"), from root *ar- "fit together, join" (see arm (n.1)).

In Middle English usually with a 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 1610s; especially of painting, sculpture, etc., from 1660s. Broader sense of the word remains in artless.

Fine arts, "those which appeal to the mind and the imagination" first recorded 1767. Expression art for art's sake (1824) translates French l'art pour l'art. First record of art critic is from 1847. 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]

v.

second person present indicative of be; Old English eart. Also see are (v.).

adj.

"produced with conscious artistry," as opposed to popular or folk, 1890, from art (n.), possibly from influence of German kunstlied "art song" (cf. art film, 1960; art rock, 1968).

Slang definitions & phrases for arts

art

noun

A photograph or photographs of criminals, esp wanted criminals; mug shot: Art depicting the Most Wanted List is on post office bulletin boards (Police)

Related Terms

state of the art, tit art


Related Abbreviations for arts

ARTS

automated radar terminal system

ART

  1. airborne radiation thermometer
  2. assisted reproductive technology
Idioms and Phrases with arts

art

see: