classic

English

Alternative forms

• classick (obsolete)

Etymology

From French classique, from Latin classicus (“relating to the classes of Roman citizenry, especially the highest”), from classis

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈklæsɪk/
• Rhymes: -æsɪk

Adjective

classic (comparative more classic, superlative most classic)

1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
   • Byron

     Give, as thy last memorial to the age, / One classic drama, and reform the stage.

2. Exemplary of a particular style.
3. Exhibiting timeless quality.
   • 2013 January 1, Paul Bartel, Ashli Moore, “Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight”, American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, page 47–48: 

     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.

4. 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.
   • Mrs. Hemans

     Though throned midst Latium's classic plains.

5. (euphemistic) traditional; original

   Users who dislike the new visual layout can return to classic mode.

Translations

exemplary of a particular style

• Afrikaans: klassiek
• Armenian: դասական (hy) (dasakan)
• Bulgarian: класически (bg) (klasičeski)
• Czech: klasický (cs) m
• Finnish: klassinen (fi)
• French: classique (fr) m and f
• German: klassisch (de)
• Hebrew: קלאסי (he) (klasi) m

• Irish: clasaiceach (ga)
• Italian: classico (it)
• Luxembourgish: klassesch (lb)
• Navajo: wódáanii
• Polish: klasyczny m
• Serbo-Croatian: klàsičan (sh)
• Spanish: clásico (es)
• Swedish: klassisk (sv)

exhibiting timeless quality

• Afrikaans: klassiek
• Armenian: դասական (hy) (dasakan)
• Bulgarian: класически (bg) (klasičeski)
• Czech: klasický (cs) m
• Esperanto: klasika (eo)
• Finnish: klassikko (fi)
• French: classique (fr) m and f
• German: klassisch (de)

• Ido: klasika (io)
• Irish: clasaiceach (ga)
• Italian: classico (it)
• Luxembourgish: klassesch (lb)
• Polish: klasyczny m
• Serbo-Croatian: klàsičan (sh)
• Swedish: tidlös (sv), klassisk (sv)

Noun

classic (plural classics)

1. A perfect and/or early example of a particular style.
2. An artistic work of lasting worth
3. The author of such a work.
   • Macaulay

     Raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic.

4. A major, long-standing sporting event
5. (dated) One learned in the literature of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome; a student of classical literature.

Translations

example

• Afrikaans: klassieke
• Bulgarian: образец (bg) (obrazec) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 典型 (cmn) (diǎnxíng)

• French: classique (fr) m

• German: Klassiker (de) m
• Irish: clasaic (ga) f, clasaiceach (ga) m
• Italian: classico (it) m
• Russian: образец (ru) (obrazéc) m

lasting work

• Afrikaans: klassieke
• Bulgarian: класика (bg) (klasika) f
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 經典 (cmn), 经典 (cmn) (jīngdiǎn), 名著 (cmn) (míngzhù)

• French: classique (fr) m

• German: Klassiker (de) m
• Irish: clasaic (ga) f, clasaiceach (ga) m
• Italian: classico (it) m
• Japanese: クラシック (ja) (kurasshiku), 古典 (ja) (こてん, koten)
• Russian: классика (ru) (klássika) f

event

• Afrikaans: klassieke
• French: classique (fr) m

• German: Klassiker (de) m
• Italian: classico (it) m

See also

• classical
• classics