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 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

But, that decision posed a few difficulties, as I was faced with creatively cramming my not-small collection of books, art, and decor into a space that might qualify as a walk-in closet in cities other than New York. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, "You Should Be Adding New Hardware to Basically All Your Furniture," 7 Aug. 2019 There's an art to rebooting, a mixture that's equal parts nostalgia and novelty. — Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, "'Event Horizon' Is Coming Back. It's About Damn Time.," 6 Aug. 2019 Held in Barbados every year, Crop Over is a three-month long festival celebrating the island's culture, music, arts, and food. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Rihanna Is a Pink Feathered Dream at Crop Over 2019," 5 Aug. 2019 The Making of Star Wars is a fat slab of a coffee table book, where concept art, scans of scripts, and behind-the-scenes photography accompanied a narrative history of the film’s production. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "J.W. Rinzler’s The Making of Alien is the definitive story of the classic horror film," 4 Aug. 2019 The buttons are art, painted with scenes of history and fables, engraved with ornate designs and decorated with glass, rhinestones or just about anything else. — oregonlive.com, "Hardcore button collectors see beauty, history in the fashion essential," 1 Aug. 2019 This is the art of Sondheim, but also that of Prince. — Aja Romano, Vox, "Broadway director Harold Prince left an unparalleled legacy of masterworks," 1 Aug. 2019 Atop the millenial pink spiraling staircase is tapestry art by Qualeasha Wood, a recent Rhode Island School of Design graduate. — Jeneé Osterheldt, BostonGlobe.com, "Can a black woman fly at The Wing?," 31 July 2019 Every Friday, Adebajo and her team of five swoop in, decorate the walls with Nigerian art, adorn the tables with traditional figurines, and cover the bar in traditional woven cloth. — Flora Tsapovsky, Bon Appétit, "Meet the 24-Year-Old Owner of Eko Kitchen, San Francisco's First Nigerian Restaurant," 31 July 2019

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 and Adjective

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

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