art

noun

\ˈärt

Definition of art

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation the art of making friends

2a : a branch of learning:

(1) : one of the humanities

(2) arts plural : liberal arts

b archaic : learning, scholarship

3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill the art of organ building

4a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects the art of painting landscapes also : works so produced a gallery for modern art

b(1) : fine arts

(2) : one of the fine arts

(3) : one of the graphic arts

5a archaic : a skillful plan

b : the quality or state of being artful (see artful sense 2a)

6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

art

adjective

Definition of art (Entry 2 of 5)

: produced as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes an art film art dolls art music

art

\ˈärt,

ərt\

Definition of art (Entry 3 of 5)

archaic present tense second-person singular of be

art

abbreviation

Definition of art (Entry 4 of 5)

1 article

2 artificial

3 artillery

-art

noun suffix

Definition of -art (Entry 5 of 5)

— see -ard

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about art

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Choose the Right Synonym for art

Noun

art, skill, cunning, artifice, craft mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised. art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power. the art of choosing the right word skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency. the skill of a glassblower cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing. a mystery plotted with great cunning artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature. believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice craft may imply expertness in workmanship. the craft of a master goldsmith

Examples of art in a Sentence

Noun

a piece of modern art It's a remarkable picture, but is it art? The museum has a large collection of folk art. He studied art in college.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

UMA’s purpose is to make art that turns into marine habitat by expanding fish populations. — Kayla Fitzgerald, sacbee, "Take a deep dive into this Underwater Art Museum that opened this summer," 13 July 2018 Features works of visual art which somehow, in some way, represent or are realized as hacked. — Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati.com, "Things to do in Cincinnati this week: July 9-15," 9 July 2018 This year, 335 artists from across the region submitted work for the prize, Baskerville said, and all disciplines and mediums of visual art are accepted. — Katie V. Jones, Howard County Times, "Laurel photographer's perceptions of beauty," 12 July 2018 Photo via The Modern House With its twisting curves and unfurling exterior, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this home for a piece of abstract art. — Alex Bazeley, Curbed, "Sculptural steel home built into a 19th-century railway bridge wants $1.4M," 9 July 2018 This movie is one of the most sincere, beautiful, understated pieces of art from last year. — Tom Philip, GQ, "The Best Movies/TV to Stream on Amazon Prime This July 4," 3 July 2018 Laura Geller's powder foundation honestly looks like a Louvre-worthy piece of art. — Wendy Gould, Allure, "The 9 Best Powder Foundations to Thwart Summer Sweat," 3 July 2018 The crew created a makeshift art gallery to hang their drawings and haikus, played board games and faked fancy Saturday-night dinners together with the same packaged foods astronauts on the International Space Station eat. — Bruce Henderson, charlotteobserver, "Concord native flew space mission to an asteroid. Without leaving Houston.," 3 July 2018 When patients put on special headsets, they’re transported into an art gallery with empty frames on the walls. — Rebecca Robbins, STAT, "A daredevil researcher’s latest quest: to restore sight lost to glaucoma using virtual reality," 2 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'art.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for art

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin art-, ars — more at arm

Adjective

see art entry 1

Middle English, from Old English eart; akin to Old Norse est, ert (thou) art, Old English is is

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More Definitions for art

art

noun

English Language Learners Definition of art

: something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings

: works created by artists : paintings, sculptures, etc., that are created to be beautiful or to express important ideas or feelings

: the methods and skills used for painting, sculpting, drawing, etc.

See the full definition for art in the English Language Learners Dictionary

art

noun

\ˈärt

Kids Definition of art

1 : works (as pictures, poems, or songs) made through use of the imagination and creative skills by artists the art of the Renaissance

2 : the methods and skills used for creative visual works (as painting, sculpting, and drawing) a teacher of art

3 : an activity (as painting, music, or writing) whose purpose is making things that are beautiful to look at, listen to, or read the performing arts

4 : skill that comes through experience or study the art of making friends

5 : an activity that requires skill Cooking is an art.

ART

abbreviation

Medical Definition of ART

1 accredited record technician The education and training necessary to become an ART (accredited record technician) is available through a two-year associate degree program for medical records technicians at a junior or community college. — The Chicago Tribune, 7 Dec. 1992

2 assisted reproductive technology A quarter century after the first “test tube” baby, the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has risen astronomically.— Anna Mulrine, U.S. News & World Report, 27 Sept. 2004 Nationally, about 107,000 ART procedures—which include IVF and related procedures that consist of the egg and sperm being handled outside the body—are performed.— Helena Oliviero, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 21 Mar. 2004