Classical meaning

What does “classical” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“classical” is a noun and adjective with 8 meanings. Its most common meaning is: traditional genre of music conforming to an established form and appealing to critical interest and developed musical taste.

classical

noun

  1. traditional genre of music conforming to an established form and appealing to critical interest and developed musical taste

adjective

  1. of or relating to the first significant period of a civilization, culture, area of study, etc.

    “classic Chinese pottery”

    “classical Marxism”

    Synonymsclassic
    Oppositesnonclassical
  2. of or relating to the study of the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome

    “a classical scholar”

  3. of or relating to the languages used by ancient standard authors

    “classical Greek”

  4. well-known and long-established in form or style

    “a classical ballet”

    “classic double-breasted suit”

    Synonymsclassic
  5. (physics) relating to or based on concepts that preceded the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics

  6. of or relating to music in the European tradition, such as symphonies and operas

    “classical music”

  7. of or pertaining to or characteristic of the ancient Greeks and Romans, especially their art, literature, or culture

    “classical mythology”

    “the classical world”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University