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traditional

adj. · n.
US //tɹəˈdɪʃənəɫ// UK //tɹɐdˈɪʃənəl// tra·di·tion·al
  1. 1 following custom (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    following ways of behaving or doing things that have continued in a group of people for a long time.

    relating to or based on inherited customs, beliefs, or practices. Often used to describe cultural norms passed down through generations.

    Example

    It is traditional in my family to eat a large breakfast together on Sunday mornings.

    Example

    The community remains deeply committed to traditional farming methods, despite the increasing pressure to adopt industrial machinery and chemical fertilisers.
  2. 2 music/art style (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    describing a style of music or art that follows old rules and uses older instruments or tools.

    denoting a style of art or music that adheres to established historical forms rather than contemporary or experimental ones.

    Example

    The band plays traditional folk songs from the local area.

    Example

    The festival showcased traditional acoustic performances, deliberately excluding any electronic or synthesised elements to preserve the historical sound of the genre.
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  1. 3 anonymous composer (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Music

    used when the person who wrote a song is unknown because the music is very old.

    attributed to an unknown author or composer, typically because the work has been passed down through oral tradition.

    Example

    The program listed the old lullaby as a traditional song.

    Example

    Many of the carols performed tonight are marked as traditional, their original melodies having evolved through centuries of communal singing before being transcribed.
  2. 4 Chinese script (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    relating to the older, more complex way of writing Chinese characters.

    referring to the set of Chinese characters that were not affected by the simplification reforms of the 20th century.

    Example

    Books in Hong Kong are usually printed using traditional characters.

    Example

    While the mainland uses simplified script, scholars often prefer traditional characters for their historical depth and visual complexity.
  3. 5 physical art media (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    art made with real tools like paint and paper, rather than on a computer.

    art produced using physical media such as oil, charcoal, or clay, as opposed to digital tools.

    Example

    She posts her digital sketches on weekdays and her traditional paintings on the weekend.

    Example

    The artist's portfolio is split between digital concept work and high-quality traditional, demonstrating a mastery of both software and physical oils.

    Usage

    Often used as a shortened form of 'traditional art' in online communities.
    • physical art
    • digital art
Origin

From tradition + -al.

Word family

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