LITERATURE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does literature mean? 

• LITERATURE (noun)
  The noun LITERATURE has 4 senses:

1. creative writing of recognized artistic value

2. the humanistic study of a body of literature

3. published writings in a particular style on a particular subject

4. the profession or art of a writer

  Familiarity information: LITERATURE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LITERATURE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Creative writing of recognized artistic value

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("literature" is a kind of...):

piece of writing; writing; written material (the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect))

Domain member category:

lit; literature (the humanistic study of a body of literature)

apace ((poetic, literary) quickly)

copyrighted ((of literary or musical or dramatic or artistic work) protected by copyright)

filmable ((used of a story or literary work) capable of being adapted to motion picture form)

gothic (characterized by gloom and mystery and the grotesque)

carved; carven (made for or formed by carving ('carven' is archaic or literary))

longueur (a period of dullness or boredom (especially in a work of literature or performing art))

tension (a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies (especially in art or literature))

tempest ((literary) a violent wind)

rosebud ((a literary reference to) a pretty young girl)

republication (something that has been published again; a fresh publication (as of a literary work))

literature (the profession or art of a writer)

editing; redaction (putting something (as a literary work or a legislative bill) into acceptable form)

flash-forward (a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to a later event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story)

flashback (a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story)

literature (published writings in a particular style on a particular subject)

steed ((literary) a spirited horse for state of war)

deconstruction; deconstructionism (a philosophical theory of criticism (usually of literature or film) that seeks to expose deep-seated contradictions in a work by delving below its surface meaning)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "literature"):

Sanskrit literature (Hindu literature written in Sanskrit)

Derivation:

literary (of or relating to or characteristic of literature)

Domain member category:

wont to (in the habit of doing something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The humanistic study of a body of literature

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

lit; literature

Context example:

he took a course in Russian lit

Hypernyms ("literature" is a kind of...):

literary study (the humanistic study of literature)

Domain category:

literature (creative writing of recognized artistic value)

Derivation:

literary (knowledgeable about literature)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Published writings in a particular style on a particular subject

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

one aspect of Waterloo has not yet been treated in the literature

Hypernyms ("literature" is a kind of...):

piece of writing; writing; written material (the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect))

Domain category:

literature (creative writing of recognized artistic value)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "literature"):

historiography (a body of historical literature)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The profession or art of a writer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

her place in literature is secure

Hypernyms ("literature" is a kind of...):

profession (an occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences))

Domain category:

literature (creative writing of recognized artistic value)

 Context examples 

Great literature could not reside in such a field.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It is characterized by the presence of a papillary pattern, and has been described as an adenoma or carcinoma in the literature.

(Endolymphatic Sac Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

It cost me much trouble to explain to him what I was doing; for the inhabitants have not the least idea of books or literature.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

You may be working on an project that you are passionate about, such as one involving music, poetry, literature, sculpture, dance, or another artistic discipline.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

There are preliminary findings in the literature that seem to indicate that adults with brainstem gliomas may have a better survival time.

(Brain Stem Astrocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

There is significant overlap regarding the usage of this term and ENCEPHALITIS in the literature.

(Encephalomyelitis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A unit for measuring concentration or/and reactivity of a test substance (an antigen or antibody of interest) as defined in the literature reference standard for the particular quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

(Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Unit, NCI Thesaurus)

Betacyanin is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to significantly reduce oxidative stress in patients and may even help in preventing chronic pathologies, inflammation, and cancer, according to the scientific literature.

(World's First True Red Spinach Variety Released, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

A unit used for measuring substance concentration or/and activity as defined in the literature reference standard for the particular assay method.

(Assay Unit, NCI Thesaurus)

On every point of general literature he displays unbounded knowledge and a quick and piercing apprehension.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)