aesthetic

²aes·thet·ic

noun
\es-ˈthe-tik, is-, British usually ēs-\

Definition of AESTHETIC

1

plural but sing or plural in constr : 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>

Variants of AESTHETIC

aes·thet·ic also es·thet·ic \es-ˈthe-tik, is-, British usually ēs-\

Examples of AESTHETIC

1. Aesthetics is an important part of Greek philosophy.
2. the aesthetics of the gemstones

Origin of AESTHETIC

(see ¹aesthetic)

First Known Use: 1822

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

Rhymes with AESTHETIC

ascetic, cosmetic, emetic, magnetic, splenetic, synthetic, Venetic