attic
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the room or space at the very top of a house, right under the roof.
n.the uppermost space or room in a building, situated directly beneath the roof and often characterized by sloped ceilings.
Simple“We keep all our old Christmas decorations in boxes in the attic.”
In context“The renovation converted the dusty, unfinished attic into a bright master bedroom with skylights that offered a view of the city skyline.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a funny way to talk about someone's head or their mind.
n.a metaphorical reference to the human head or intellect, viewed as the 'top floor' of the body.
Simple“He has plenty of bright ideas up in the attic.”
In context“The old professor might seem eccentric, but there is still a very sharp mind working away up in that attic of his.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to ancient Athens in Greece, or its simple and elegant style.
adj.pertaining to Attica, its inhabitants, or the dialect of ancient Athens; often implies a refined or classical style.
Simple“The museum has a beautiful collection of Attic pottery from the fifth century.”
In context“The orator was praised for his Attic wit, which favored subtle elegance and clarity over the more flamboyant styles of his contemporaries.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.the specific form of the Greek language spoken in ancient Athens.
n.the dialect of Ancient Greek spoken in Attica, which became the standard language for classical Greek literature.
Simple“Students of classical history often begin by learning to read Attic.”
In context“The transition from various regional dialects to a standardized Attic form marked a significant turning point in the history of Greek prose.”
Synonymsattic greek
From Latin Atticus, from Ancient Greek Ἀττικός (Attikós), from some Pre-Greek demonym or toponym for Athens and its hinterland of Attica + -ικός (-ikós, “-ic: forming adjectives”). Equivalent to a modified and clipped Athens + -ic. Doublet of Atticus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.