classical
/ˈklæs.ɪ.k(ə)l/
Frequency: 4.26 in modern English
Meaning
adj
Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
adj
Of or pertaining to established principles in a discipline.
adj
Describing art music (rather than pop, jazz, blues, etc), especially when played using instruments of the orchestra.
Informal
adj
Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, especially to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
adj
Knowledgeable or skilled in the classics; versed in the classics.
adj
Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined
adj
Pertaining to models of physical laws that do not take quantum or relativistic effects into account; Newtonian or Maxwellian.
Example Sentences
- "... Mr. Greaves, who may be juſtly reckoned a Claſſical Author on this Subject."
- "Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get; what you get is classical alpha-taxonomy which is, very largely and for sound reasons, in disrepute today."
- "He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college."
- "a classical scholar"
- "But she’s not just classy; she’s classical: so deeply versed in tap tradition and technique that she has the whole of it at her command and never has to worry."
- "classical dance"
Etymology
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈklæs.ɪ.k(ə)l/
- British English: /ˈklæs.ɪ.k(ə)l/