art1
(ɑrt)
n. 1. the quality, production, expression, or realm of what is beautiful or of more than ordinary significance.
2. the class of objects subject to aesthetic criteria, as paintings, sculptures, or drawings.
3. a field or category of art: Dance is an art.
4. the fine arts collectively.
5. any field using the skills or techniques of art: industrial art.
6. (in printed matter) illustrative or decorative material.
7. the principles or methods governing any craft or branch of learning: the art of baking.
8. the craft or trade using these principles or methods.
9. skill in conducting any human activity: the art of conversation.
10. a branch of learning or university study, esp. one of the fine arts or the humanities, as music, philosophy, or literature.
11. arts, a. (used with a sing. v.) the humanities.
12. skilled workmanship, execution, or agency, as distinguished from nature.
13. trickery; cunning.
14. studied action; artificiality in behavior.
15. an artifice or artful device: the arts of politics.
16. Archaic. science; learning.
[1175–1225; Middle English < Old French, acc. of ars < Latin ars (nominative), artem (acc.)]
art2
(ɑrt)
v. Archaic.2nd pers. sing. pres. indic. of
be. [before 950; Middle English; Old English
eart=
ear- (see
are1) +
-t ending of 2nd pers. singular]
-art
art.
pl. arts for 1. 1. article.
2. artillery.
3. artist.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.