classics
- 1Plural of classic.
Several of her early novels became instant classics.
The museum displays automotive classics from the 1950s.
Note
Once classic is pluralized, the same spelling does several jobs. In racing, the classics are the five British Classic Races. In a dated usage, classics were scholars of Greek and Latin, which sits close to the name of the discipline. Outside those uses, the plural simply counts enduring works, such as films, songs and novels, or perfect early examples of a style.
- 2The academic study of Ancient Greek and Latin, together with their literature, history, and related subjects.
He earned a degree in classics, focusing mainly on Roman poetry.
Classics gives students a deep grounding in ancient Greek philosophy.
Note
A plural that behaves like a singular, the way mathematics and physics do: classics gives students a grounding, not classics give. The name exists only in the plural, so the discipline has no form like a classic. It usually takes no article, as in a degree in classics, while the classics more often points to the great works themselves. Classical studies is the longer synonym.
classics is a form of classic
classic, noun: A work of art, such as a film or song, that has lasting worth and enduring excellence. Full entry
- Forms
- classicclassics plural
- Spelling
- classic → classics: add -s
- Sound
- The ending sounds like /s/.
Use it in a sentence
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