classic Hear it!

classic Definition

clas·sic (klas′ik)

adjective

  1. of the highest class; being a model of its kind; excellent; standard; authoritative; established a classic example of expressionism
  2. classical (senses & )
  3. of or having a style that is balanced, formal, objective, restrained, regular, simple, etc.
  4. famous or well-known, esp. as being traditional or typical a classic court case
  5. ☆ Informal continuing in fashion because of its simple style: said of an article of apparel

Etymology: L classicus, relating to the (highest) classes of the Roman people, hence, superior < classis, class

noun

  1. a writer, artist, etc. or a literary or artistic work, generally recognized as excellent, authoritative, etc.
    1. the works produced by the outstanding authors of ancient Greece and Rome: usually with the
    2. the field of study dealing with these works and with ancient Greek and Latin her major is classics
  3. ☆ a famous traditional or typical event the Kentucky Derby is a racing classic
  4. ☆ Informal a suit, dress, etc. that is classic in style
  5. ☆ Informal an automobile of the period 1925-42

classic Synonyms

classic

modif.

outstanding, excellent, superior, first-rate, standard, authoritative, established, traditional, time-honored, archetypal, prototypical, exemplary, model, ideal, quintessential, definitive, typical, ageless, timeless, enduring, vintage, canonical, immortal, noteworthy, distinguished, paramount, ranking, well-known; see also excellent, famous, perfect 2.

classic Synonyms

classic

n.

masterwork, exemplar, standard; see masterpiece, model 1.

classic Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • genre: Arhats In Fury is a rare classic of the martial arts genre!
  • magic: The Cigarette Through Quarter is a modern classic of magic, only made possible by one of the most ingenious gimmicked coins ever invented.
  • literature: The imprisonment was crucial to his artistic and political development, as he spent the time reading the classics of world literature.

Converse of object

  • become: Marshall also wrote what has become a minor classic.

Adjective modifier

  • timeless: Suffice to say: this is a timeless classic.
  • instant: The opening ' Show Girl ' had been an instant classic.
  • enduring: In this volume, you'll discover the Linking Rings, one of magic's most enduring classics.
  • literary: Virginia was educated by private tutors and by extensive reading of literary classics in her father's library.
  • 80s: All those 60s 70s 80s classics to get your party going.
  • absolute: An absolute cult classic; hilarious and intelligent British comedy at its finest.

Modifies a noun

  • tale: Classic tale of a boy who dreams himself to an island of friendly monsters.
  • example: The past few months have been a classic example.
  • novel: Among her own experiences she slips extracts from classic novels which illuminate the dilemma further.
  • car: Driving classic cars has a way of making one believe in destiny.
  • album: It is best to know the basics of this to understand why it has been probably the hardest to obtain of any classic album.
  • comedy: Red Dwarf is classic character comedy, a bunch of misfits trapped somewhere in deep space.

Noun used with modifier

  • cult: An absolute cult classic; hilarious and intelligent British comedy at its finest.
  • horror: Our Verdict... A seminal 80's horror classic that created a whole new sub-genre for itself.
  • soul: Perhaps his best claim to fame was as the writer of the soul classic Go Now in 1964.
  • jazz: The musical style of the band leans heavily on the jazz classics & swing but with many entirely original variations and arrangements.
classic Quotes

A classic†something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.

—Twain, Mark pseudonym of  Samuel Langhorne Clemens

No classic resembles any previous classic, so do not be discouraged.

—Hemingway, Ernest Millar

   For wheresoe'er I turn my ravished eyes, Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise, Poetic fields encompass me around, And still I seem to tread on classic ground.

—Addison,Joseph