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classical

classical

48 3.9
Long-established and accepted as a standard
  • adjective
  • /ˈklæsɪkəl/
translation icon : clásico
  • The first half of the program is generally classical with a few popular standards or show tunes.
  • classical liberalism
  • classical economists
  • classical and neoclassical

And this is pretty much just your classical fantasy.

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Examples

  • Many students appreciate learning about classical literature, as it lays the foundation for understanding modern works.

  • I was trained in the classical theatre, you know...

  • At least, in the classical sense.

  • It's a really nice classical guitar, just like playing it.

  • All he ever did was read classical literature, and listened to opera and classical music.

  • The ways students study jazz can enhance their learning of classical repertoire as well.

    Academic text (2011)
  • His late style has often been seen as constrained, classical, and hard-edged.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Fragonard's painting exemplifies a classical approach to art, drawing inspiration from ancient themes and techniques.

  • In music class, we studied the classical composers whose works are considered masterpieces of orchestral music.

Synonyms

classic
vsclassical
539 3.4

A typical, high quality example of its kind

focuses on long established origin and authoritative period or style instead of quality
canonical
vsclassical
4 7.9

In line with accepted rules or standards

emphasizes reputation, age, or historic style rather than mere rule conformity

Antonyms

Not following the old rules of art and science, for example in music

Compounds

Music that is formal and often played by orchestras, mainly from Europe since the 1700s

A traditional dance style with precise, formal movements performed to classical music

A form of Ancient Greek spoken and written in Athens to create famous plays and philosophy around 400 BC

Art from ancient Greece that uses balance and simple beauty, like statues and temples

1 3.9

Learning where a neutral thing causes an automatic reaction after being paired many times with something that already causes it

classical mythology
  • Literature
1 6.1

Stories about gods and heroes from ancient Greece and Rome

A person who studies ancient Greek and Latin language, writings, and culture

The form of Latin used by educated people in ancient Rome, especially in literature and formal writing

classical mechanics
  • Specialized
5.9

Part of physics that explains how objects move when forces act, not using quantum or relativity

classical philology
  • Specialized
9.9

Study of ancient languages and texts like Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit

A building style that uses tall columns, symmetry, and simple proportions

6.4

The usual design of computers and software that do not use quantum methods

classical hemophilia
  • Specialized
5.2

An inherited bleeding disorder where people lack clotting protein factor VIII and bleed for a long time, mainly males

How Established

definitive
  • Formal
29 6.1
canonical
4 7.9
classical
48 3.9
well-known
253 1.0
known
2 1.0
obscure
84 7.0

Surface Forms

classical positive

Morphology

classical = classic (transparent) = classic + al

The adjective 'classical' is a straightforward derivation from 'classic' with the regular adjectival suffix -al yielding 'relating to or characteristic of what is classic.'

Etymology

A helpful way to remember classical is to think of class and classic: the Latin classicus meant 'of the first class', so classical describes something long-established, well-known, or a clear model from an important early period.