# attic

/ˈætɪk/ (US) · /ˈætɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/attic
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. room under the roof

noun · CEFR B1

the room or space at the very top of a house, right under the roof.

For teachers: the uppermost space or room in a building, situated directly beneath the roof and often characterized by sloped ceilings.

- We keep all our old Christmas decorations in boxes in the attic.
- The renovation converted the dusty, unfinished attic into a bright master bedroom with skylights that offered a view of the city skyline.

### 2. the head or brain

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Humorous · Slang

a funny way to talk about someone's head or their mind.

For teachers: a metaphorical reference to the human head or intellect, viewed as the 'top floor' of the body.

- He has plenty of bright ideas up in the attic.
- The old professor might seem eccentric, but there is still a very sharp mind working away up in that attic of his.

### 3. relating to ancient Athens

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal · Technical

relating to ancient Athens in Greece, or its simple and elegant style.

For teachers: pertaining to Attica, its inhabitants, or the dialect of ancient Athens; often implies a refined or classical style.

- The museum has a beautiful collection of Attic pottery from the fifth century.
- The orator was praised for his Attic wit, which favored subtle elegance and clarity over the more flamboyant styles of his contemporaries.

### 4. ancient Greek dialect

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

the specific form of the Greek language spoken in ancient Athens.

For teachers: the dialect of Ancient Greek spoken in Attica, which became the standard language for classical Greek literature.

- Students of classical history often begin by learning to read Attic.
- The transition from various regional dialects to a standardized Attic form marked a significant turning point in the history of Greek prose.

## Examples

- I keep my old school books in the attic.
- We climbed the narrow wooden stairs to the attic to look for the holiday decorations.
- The architect suggested converting the dusty attic into a bright studio by installing several skylights along the slope of the roof.

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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.