aesthetic
Etymology

From German Ästhetik or French esthétique, both from nl. aesthēticus, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek αἰσθητικός, from αἰσθάνομαι ("I feel"); Analysable as .

Cognates include Proto-Germanic *awiz, Sanskrit आविस् and Latin audiō.

Pronunciation
  • (RP, contemporary) IPA: /ɛsˈθɛt.ɪk/, /əsˈθɛt.ɪk/, /iːsˈθɛt.ɪk/
  • (America) IPA: /ɛsˈθɛt.ɪk/, /əsˈθɛt.ɪk/, /ɪsˈθɛtɪk/
  • (other, _, British) IPA: /ɪsˈθɛt.ɪk/
  • (also) IPA: /æsˈθɛt.ɪk/
Adjective

aesthetic

  1. Concerned with beauty, artistic effect, or appearance.
    Coordinate term: cosmetic
    It works well enough, but the shabby exterior offends his aesthetic sensibilities.
    • 1881, W. S. Gilbert, Patience, act I:
      If you're anxious for to shine in the high aesthetic line as a man of culture rare,
      You must get up all the germs of the transcendental terms, and plant them everywhere.
  2. Beautiful or appealing to one's sense of beauty or art.
    Synonyms: aesthetical, tasteful
    Antonyms: inaesthetic, unaesthetic
    The design of the lobby cannot be considered particularly aesthetic.
Translations Noun

aesthetic (plural aesthetics)

  1. The study of art or beauty.
  2. That which appeals to the senses.
  3. The artistic motifs defining a collection of things, especially works of art; more broadly, their aura or “vibe”.
    Her most recent works have this quirky, nonchalant ’90s teen culture–inspired aesthetic.
    I really like the goth aesthetic you've got going there.
Translations Related terms


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