literature
The body of all written worksThe body of all written works.
» Tom likes reading English literature.
Tom liest gerne englische Literatur.
Том любит читать английскую литературу.
Тому подобається читати англійську літературу.
Том любить читати англійську літературу.
Meaning
5 senses(uncountable, usually)The body of all written works.
Literatur
литерату́раliteratúra, слове́сностьslovésnostʹ
літерату́раliteratúra, письме́нництвоpysʹménnyctvo, письме́нствоpysʹménstvo
the humanistic study of a body of literature
(uncountable, usually)The collected creative writing of a nation, people, group, or culture.
He’s studying English literature at university.
There’s a vast body of scientific literature on the subject.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
(uncountable, usually)All the papers, treatises, etc. published in academic journals on a particular subject.
литерату́раliteratúra
published writings in a particular style on a particular subject
(uncountable, usually)Written fiction of a high standard.
(obsolete, uncountable, usually)Literacy; ability to read and write.
Examples
324 sentencesTom likes reading English literature.
Тому подобається читати англійську літературу.
ruТом любит читать английскую литературу.
deTom liest gerne englische Literatur.
He majors in English literature.
Його спеціалізація — англійська література.
deEr studiert englische Literatur als Hauptfach.
I'm very interested in classical literature.
deIch interessiere mich sehr für klassische Literatur.
He is well read in English literature.
ruОн хорошо подкован в английской литературе.
I'm not as interested in literature as you.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English literature, from Old French littérature, from Latin literatura or littFrom Middle English literature, from Old French littérature, from Latin literatura or litteratura, from littera (“letter”), from Etruscan, from Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā, “tablet”). Displaced native Old English bōccræft, literally "book + -craft", see Modern English bookcraft.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: literaturesSynonyms
3 synonyms- the humanistic study of a body of literature:lit
Word family
55 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable