# art

/ˈɑɹt/ (US) · /ˈɑːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/art
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 1. creative expression

noun · CEFR A1

the making of beautiful things like paintings, sculptures, or music to express feelings.

For teachers: the conscious production or arrangement of elements in a manner that affects the senses and emotions, typically through a visual or auditory medium.

- The museum is full of modern art that uses bright colours and strange shapes.
- The gallery's permanent collection explores the evolution of abstract art throughout the twentieth century, highlighting the shift from representation to pure form.

### 2. a specific category

noun · CEFR A2

a particular type of creative activity, such as painting, dance, or theatre.

For teachers: a specific field or category of creative activity, often used in the plural to describe the humanities.

- She enjoys all the arts, but her favourite is classical ballet.
- The university provides extensive funding for the performing arts, ensuring that students have access to professional-grade theatre and music facilities.

### 3. a skill or craft

noun · CEFR B1

a skill that you learn through a lot of practice and observation.

For teachers: a skill or craft attained through study, practice, or observation; often implies a high level of mastery.

- Cooking a perfect steak is a real art that takes years to master.
- Negotiation is a subtle art that requires the ability to read people's emotions while maintaining a firm stance on one's own objectives.

### 4. intuitive subject

noun · CEFR B2

a subject or activity that depends on feeling and intuition rather than science and facts.

For teachers: a field of study or activity understood primarily through intuition and experience rather than rigid methodology.

- Teaching is as much an art as it is a science.
- While data analysis provides the foundation, successful marketing remains an art that relies on a deep understanding of human psychology.

### 5. medical treatment

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short way to say 'antiretroviral therapy', which is a treatment for HIV.

For teachers: an acronym for antiretroviral therapy, used to manage HIV infection by suppressing the virus.

- The doctor explained how ART helps people with HIV live long and healthy lives.
- Consistent adherence to ART is critical for maintaining an undetectable viral load and preventing the transmission of the virus to others.

Usage: Usually written in all capitals as ART.

## Examples

- She loves to look at modern art in the gallery.
- The museum displays various forms of art, ranging from ancient pottery to contemporary digital installations.
- While some view the negotiation process as a purely logical exercise, experienced diplomats treat it as a delicate art that requires intuition and a deep understanding of human psychology.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.