Adjacent Words

aesthetic definitions

	Tweet

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: relating to or dealing with the subject of aesthetics; "aesthetic values" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic]
2: concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste; "the aesthetic faculties"; "an aesthetic person"; "aesthetic feeling"; "the illustrations made the book an aesthetic success" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic, aesthetical, esthetical] [ant: inaesthetic, unaesthetic]
3: aesthetically pleasing; "an artistic flower arrangement" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic, artistic] n
1: (philosophy) a philosophical theory as to what is beautiful; "he despised the esthetic of minimalism" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective also esthetic or aesthetical or esthetical Etymology: German ästhetisch, from New Latin aestheticus, from Greek aisth?tikos of sense perception, from aisthanesthai to perceive — more at audible Date: 1798 1. a. of, relating to, or dealing with aesthetics or the beautiful <aesthetic theories> b. artistic <a work of aesthetic value> c. pleasing in appearance ; attractive <easy-to-use keyboards, clear graphics, and other ergonomic and aesthetic features — Mark Mehler> 2. appreciative of, responsive to, or zealous about the beautiful; also responsive to or appreciative of what is pleasurable to the senses • aesthetically also esthetically adverb II. noun also esthetic Date: 1822 1. plural but singular or plural in construction a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty 2. a particular theory or conception of beauty or art ; a particular taste for or approach to what is pleasing to the senses and especially sight <modernist aesthetics> <staging new ballets which reflected the aesthetic of the new nation — Mary Clarke & Clement Crisp> 3. plural a pleasing appearance or effect ; beauty <appreciated the aesthetics of the gemstones>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & n. (US esthetic) --adj. 1 concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty. 2 having such appreciation; sensitive to beauty. 3 in accordance with the principles of good taste. --n. 1 (in pl.) the philosophy of the beautiful, esp. in art. 2 a set of principles of good taste and the appreciation of beauty. Derivatives: aesthetically adv. aestheticism n. Etymology: Gk aisthetikos f. aisthanomai perceive

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

AEsthetic [AE]s*thet"ic, AEsthetical [AE]s*thet"ic*al,a. Of or Pertaining to [ae]sthetics; versed in [ae]sthetics; as, [ae]sthetic studies, emotions, ideas, persons, etc. -- [AE]s*thet"ic*al*ly, adv.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Note: in AM, also use 'esthetic' Aesthetic is used to talk about beauty or art, and people's appreciation of beautiful things. ...products chosen for their aesthetic appeal as well as their durability and quality. ADJ • The aesthetic of a work of art is its aesthetic quality. He responded very strongly to the aesthetic of this particular work. N-SING: the N • aesthetically There is nothing aesthetically pleasing about this bridge. ADV: oft ADV with cl

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a.; (also aesthetical) Tasteful, gratifying to taste, beautiful, becoming, fit, appropriate, in good taste, referring to taste, concerning aesthetics, founded on the idea of beauty.

Moby Thesaurus

Attic, aesthetically appealing, art-conscious, artistic, arty, attractive, beauteous, beautiful, chaste, choice, classic, cultivated, discriminating, elegant, endowed with beauty, excellent, exquisite, eye-filling, fine, flowerlike, graceful, gracile, handsome, heavy, in good taste, lovely, of choice, of consummate art, of quality, ornamental, painterly, pleasing, pretty, pulchritudinous, pure, quiet, refined, restrained, sensitive, simple, subdued, tasteful, unaffected, understated, unobtrusive, well-chosen