classic

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈklæs.ɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #3000

Meanings

1

adj
Admired for a long time and recognized as one of the best of its kind.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic novel by Harper Lee.
2

adj
Being a typical or perfect example of something.

His symptoms are a classic case of the flu.
3

adj
Having a simple, traditional style that does not go out of fashion.

She wore a classic black dress to the dinner.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · being a typical or perfect... typical

More classical

Word family

Forms classics

Derived forms classiciseclassicism classicistclassicizeclassiclyneoclassicneoclassicismnonclassicpostclassicpseudoclassicquasiclassicsemiclassic

Related forms classicalclassics

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

classic car
an older car valued for its enduring design or historical appeal

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From French classique, from Latin classic(us) (“relating to the classes of Roman citizenry, especially the highest”), from classis. By surface analysis, class + -ic. Piecewise doublet of classy.

classique French classicus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# classic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈklæs.ɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 3000

## Meanings
1. Admired for a long time and recognized as one of the best of its kind.
2. Being a typical or perfect example of something.
3. Having a simple, traditional style that does not go out of fashion.

## Examples
- "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic novel by Harper Lee.
- His symptoms are a classic case of the flu.
- She wore a classic black dress to the dinner.

## Synonyms
- classical

## Derived Forms
- classicise
- classicism
- classicist
- classicize
- classicly
- neoclassic
- neoclassicism
- nonclassic
- postclassic
- pseudoclassic
- quasiclassic
- semiclassic

## Related Forms
- classical
- classics

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: classique
- Root: classicus

## Etymology
From French classique, from Latin classic(us) (“relating to the classes of Roman citizenry, especially the highest”), from classis. By surface analysis, class + -ic. Piecewise doublet of classy.

## AI Etymology
classic is an adjective. It is from French classique, from Latin classic(us) (“relating to the classes of Roman citizenry, especially the highest”), from classis. By surface analysis, class + -ic. Piecewise doublet of classy. Historical forms in the chain include classique (French) and classicus (Latin). Current senses include admired for a long time and recognized as one of the best of its kind, being a typical or perfect example of something, and having a simple, traditional style that does not go out of fashion. Derived forms include classicise, classicism, classicist, classicize, and classicly. Related words include classical and classics.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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