Pronunciations (5)
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/ˈklæs.ɪ.k(ə)l/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- Canada
- General-American
- Received-Pronunciation
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[ˈklæs.ɪ.kɫ̩]
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- Canada
- General-American
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ˈklɛs.ɪ.kəl/
Pronunciation notes
- New-Zealand
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[ˈklɛs.ɪ.kɫ̩]
Pronunciation notes
- New-Zealand
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ˈklæsɪkl̩
Adjective
Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
- Examples
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... Mr. Greaves, who may be juſtly reckoned a Claſſical Author on this Subject.
Of or pertaining to established principles in a discipline.
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
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.
Describing Western music and musicians of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
- Antonyms
Describing art music (rather than pop, jazz, blues, etc), especially when played using instruments of the orchestra.
Usage- Informal
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.
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He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college.
Knowledgeable or skilled in the classics; versed in the classics.
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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.
Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined
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classical dance
1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume 1, page 151. Classical, provincial, and national synods.
Pertaining to models of physical laws that do not take quantum or relativistic effects into account; Newtonian or Maxwellian.
- Antonyms
Noun
One that is classical in some way; for example, a classical economist.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Similarly, the new classicals never claimed to be Austrians, nor did they ever make the attempt to meet Austrian objections. Therefore, we cannot fault them for not using this methodology. Nevertheless, new classicals constantly preach […]
Adjective
of or relating to the first significant period of a civilization, culture, area of study, etc.
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
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classic Chinese pottery
classical Marxism
of or relating to the study of the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome
- Examples
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a classical scholar
of or relating to the languages used by ancient standard authors
- Examples
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classical Greek
well-known and long-established in form or style
- Synonyms
- Examples
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a classical ballet
classic double-breasted suit
More examples (1)
the classic struggle between good and evil
(physics) relating to or based on concepts that preceded the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics
of or relating to music in the European tradition, such as symphonies and operas
- Examples
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classical music
of or pertaining to or characteristic of the ancient Greeks and Romans, especially their art, literature, or culture
- Synonyms
- Examples
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classical mythology
the classical world
Noun
traditional genre of music conforming to an established form and appealing to critical interest and developed musical taste
- Synonyms
- Broader terms