Dictionary

classic en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈklæsɪk/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈklasɪk/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
• /ˈklɛsək/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From French classique, from Latin classic(us) (“relating to the classes of Roman citizenry, especially the highest”), from classis. By surface analysis, class + -ic. Piecewise doublet of classy.

Meanings

1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
   • Give, as thy last memorial to the age, / One classic drama, and reform the stage. 1809, Lord Byron, English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers:
   • During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant[…] 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond:
2. Exemplary of a particular style; defining a class or category; typical; archetypical; epitomic.
   • The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad. 1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 249:
   • He has a classic case of narcissism.
3. Exhibiting timeless quality and excellence.
   • "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a 1960 classic book by Harper Lee.
4. Characteristic of or from the past; old; retro; vintage.
   • watching classic movies as a hobby
5. 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.
   • 1819, Felicia Hemans, The Widow of Crescentius Though throned midst Latium's classic plains.
6. Traditional; original.
   • Many of these classic methods are still used, with some modern improvements. For example, with the aid of special microphones and automated sound detection software, ornithologists recently reported […] that pine siskins (Spinus pinus) undergo an irregular, nomadic type of nocturnal migration. 2013 January 1, Paul Bartel, Ashli Moore, “Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, pages 47–48:
   • Users who dislike the new visual layout can return to classic mode.
7. (informal) Humorously ironic or apposite.
   • It was classic—the way she slipped on a banana peel while she was telling us all to be careful!

Forms

Deriveds

classic rock · classic autism · neoclassic · classic hit · semiclassic · classicize · classicist · classic car · classicly · fall classic · pseudoclassic · postclassic · classicism · classic female blues · neoclassicism · nonclassic · quasiclassic · unclassic · classicise · classic skiing

Synonyms

classical

Translations (63)

hu örök (exhibiting timeless quality) · da klassisk (of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans) · lb klassesch (exhibiting timeless quality) · ca clàssic (exemplary of a particular style) · io klasika (exhibiting timeless quality) · fi klassinen (exhibiting timeless quality) · sh klàsičan (exhibiting timeless quality) · he קְלָסִי (exhibiting timeless quality) · hy դասական (exemplary of a particular style) · af klassiek (exemplary of a particular style) · fi antiikin (of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans) · vi kinh điển (exemplary of a particular style) · he קְלָסִי (exemplary of a particular style) · hu antik (of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans) · cs klasický (exemplary of a particular style) · vi cổ điển (exhibiting timeless quality) · eo klasika (exhibiting timeless quality) · da klassisk (exhibiting timeless quality) · da klassisk (exemplary of a particular style) · sv klassisk (exhibiting timeless quality) · hu tipikus (exemplary of a particular style) · af klassiek (exhibiting timeless quality) · hu hagyományos (traditional, original) · fr classique (exemplary of a particular style) · bg класически (exhibiting timeless quality) · fi klassinen (exemplary of a particular style) · de klassisch (exemplary of a particular style) · es clásico (exemplary of a particular style) · pt clássico (exemplary of a particular style) · cs klasický (exhibiting timeless quality) · pl klasyczny (exhibiting timeless quality) · hu jellegzetes (exemplary of a particular style) · hu időtlen (exhibiting timeless quality) · ka ანტიკური (of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans) · mi tauhira (of or relating to the first class or rank) · sv klassisk (exemplary of a particular style) · it classico (exhibiting timeless quality) · fr classique (exhibiting timeless quality) · hu örök érvényű (exhibiting timeless quality) · sh klàsičan (exemplary of a particular style) · sh кла̀сичан (exemplary of a particular style) · nv wódáanii (exemplary of a particular style) · bg класически (exemplary of a particular style) · pt clássico (exhibiting timeless quality) · ru класси́ческий (exemplary of a particular style) · hy դասական (exhibiting timeless quality) · ga clasaiceach (exhibiting timeless quality) · lb klassesch (exemplary of a particular style) · sl klasičen (exemplary of a particular style) · pl klasyczny (exemplary of a particular style) · hu elsőrangú (of or relating to the first class or rank) · ka კლასიკური (exemplary of a particular style) · de klassisch (exhibiting timeless quality) · sv tidlös (exhibiting timeless quality) · bg класически (of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans) · ga clasaiceach (exemplary of a particular style) · ka კლასიკური (of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans) · ka კლასიკური (exhibiting timeless quality) · sh кла̀сичан (exhibiting timeless quality) · fi klassinen (of or relating to the first class or rank) · it classico (exemplary of a particular style) · fi perinteinen (traditional, original) · ca clàssic (exhibiting timeless quality)

classic en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈklæsɪk/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈklasɪk/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
• /ˈklɛsək/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From French classique, from Latin classic(us) (“relating to the classes of Roman citizenry, especially the highest”), from classis. By surface analysis, class + -ic. Piecewise doublet of classy.

Meanings

1. A perfect and/or early example of a particular style.
2. An artistic work of lasting worth, such as a film or song; a work of enduring excellence.
   • JAMES CARTER: The man's destroying a classic! 2001, Jeff Nathanson, Rush Hour 2, New Line Cinema:
3. The author of such a work.
   • It was the first work to which he had put his name; and it at once raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic. 1856 February, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “[Contributions to the Encyclopædia Britannica.] Oliver Goldsmith.”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC, page 366:
4. A major, long-standing sporting event.
5. A major, long-standing sporting event. ▸ Any of the British Classic Races, five long-standing Group 1 horse races run during the traditional flat racing season.
   • The goal of the top horses was to win a Classic (or preferably three, thus claiming the Triple Crown) or the Ascot Gold Cup, […] 2012, Dr Joyce Kay, Professor Wray Vamplew, Encyclopedia of British Horse Racing, page 316:
6. (dated) One learned in the literature of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome; a student of classical literature.

Forms

Relateds

classics · classical

Translations (59)

es clásico (lasting work) · pt clássico (lasting work) · da klassiker (lasting work) · ga clasaic (example) · nl classicus (learned one) · mi pakitūroa (lasting work) · cmn 名著 (lasting work) · da klassiker (learned one) · ga clasaiceach (example) · fi klassisti (learned one) · ru кла́ссика (lasting work) · it classico (example) · es clásico (example) · ka კლასიკა (lasting work) · ca clàssic (lasting work) · bg класика (sports event) · it classico (sports event) · hu klasszikus (author) · cmn 經典 /经典 (lasting work) · ca clàssic (sports event) · da klassiker (author) · fi klassikko (sports event) · pt clássico (example) · cmn 典型 (example) · tr klasik (lasting work) · nl klassieker (sports event) · de Klassiker (example) · de Klassiker (sports event) · fr classique (example) · af klassieke (sports event) · bg образе́ц (example) · it classico (lasting work) · ca clàssic (example) · fi klassikko (lasting work) · ru образе́ц (example) · tr klasik (author) · fr classique (lasting work) · ko 고전 (lasting work) · de Klassiker (lasting work) · kk классика (lasting work) · ja 古典 (lasting work) · hu klasszika-filológus (learned one) · pt clássico (sports event) · ko 클래식 (lasting work) · bg кла́сика (lasting work) · hu klasszikus (lasting work) · vi kinh điển (lasting work) · fr classique (sports event) · ko 전형 (example) · af klassieke (example) · fi klassikko (author) · fi klassikko (example) · ja クラシック (lasting work) · cy clasur (lasting work) · nl klassieker (lasting work) · ga clasaic (lasting work) · ga clasaiceach (lasting work) · af klassieke (lasting work) · hy դասական (author)