Definition of "art" in English

noun

1. (uncountable) 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.

   • There is a debate as to whether graffiti is art or vandalism.

2. (uncountable) The creative and emotional expression of mental imagery, such as visual, auditory, social, etc.

3. (countable) Skillful creative activity, usually with an aesthetic focus.

   • She's mastered the art of programming.

4. (uncountable) The study and the product of these processes.

   • He's at university to study art.

5. (uncountable) Aesthetic value.

   • Her photographs are nice, but there's no art in them.

6. (uncountable) Artwork.

   • Sotheby's regularly auctions art for millions.
   • art collection

7. (countable) A field or category of art, such as painting, sculpture, music, ballet, or literature.

   • I'm a great supporter of the arts.

8. (countable) (often in dichotomy with science) A subject understood best through intuition rather than methodology.

9. (countable) Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation.

   • The relation of science to art may be summed up in a brief expression: From Science comes Prevision: from Prevision comes Action.

10. (uncountable, dated) Contrivance, scheming, manipulation.

verb

1. (archaic) second-person singular simple present indicative of be

   • How great thou art!