aes·thet·ics or es·thet·ics ( s-tht  ks)n. 1. (used with a sing. verb) a. The branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and expression of beauty, as in the fine arts. b. In Kantian philosophy, the branch of metaphysics concerned with the laws of perception. 2. (used with a sing. verb) The study of the psychological responses to beauty and artistic experiences. 3. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A conception of what is artistically valid or beautiful: minimalist aesthetics. 4. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) An artistically beautiful or pleasing appearance: "They're looking for quality construction, not aesthetics" (Ron Schram). |
aesthetics sometimes US, esthetics [iːsˈθɛtɪks ɪs-]
n (functioning as singular)
1. (Philosophy) the branch of philosophy concerned with the study of such concepts as beauty, taste, etc.
2. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) the study of the rules and principles of art
[from Greek aisthētikos perceptible by the senses, from aisthesthai to perceive]
aesthetics, esthetics
a branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and the beautiful. — aesthete, aesthetic, n., adj. — aesthetical, adj.
See also: Philosophya branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and the beautiful. — aesthetic, n., adj. — aesthetical, adj.
See also: Beauty
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  aesthetics - (art) the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste (emphasizing the evaluative criteria that are applied to art); "traditional aesthetics assumed the existence of universal and timeless criteria of artistic value"artistic creation, artistic production, art - the creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that architecture is the art of wasting space beautifully" philosophy - the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics |
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