classical
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.relating to serious Western music played by orchestras or on instruments like the piano and violin.
adj.pertaining to the Western art music tradition, distinct from folk or popular music; technically refers to the late 18th and early 19th centuries but used broadly for orchestral works.
Simple“She listens to classical music while she studies to help her focus.”
In context“The conservatory offers a rigorous curriculum focused on classical composition, requiring students to master both theory and performance.”
Synonymsart musicorchestral - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.relating to the culture, art, and literature of ancient Greece and Rome.
adj.pertaining to the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome, particularly their literature, art, and architecture during their peak periods.
Simple“The museum has a large collection of classical statues from ancient Rome.”
In context“The university's department of classical studies explores the profound influence of Athenian democracy on modern political thought.”
Antonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.following traditional or long-established styles or ideas.
adj.conforming to established principles or traditional standards within a specific discipline.
Simple“The building was designed in a classical style with tall white columns.”
In context“The economist argued that classical theories of supply and demand still provide the most reliable framework for understanding market fluctuations.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to physics before the discovery of atoms and relativity.
adj.pertaining to physical laws and theories, such as Newtonian mechanics, that do not account for quantum or relativistic effects.
Simple“In high school, students usually start by learning classical physics.”
In context“While classical mechanics accurately describes the motion of everyday objects, it fails to explain the behavior of particles at the subatomic level.”
SynonymsnewtonianAntonyms - 05 B1 Intermediate
n.a short way of saying 'classical music'.
n.an elliptical reference to classical music as a genre.
Simple“I don't like rock very much; I prefer listening to classical.”
In context“The radio station switched its format from contemporary hits to classical, attracting a much older demographic of listeners.”
Synonymsclassical music
classical vs classic — Classic describes a high-quality or typical example, while classical relates to traditional styles or ancient history.
Usage classical music
See classic § Etymology for history. By surface analysis, class + -ical or classic + -al or class + -ic + -al
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.