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Literature: Definition, Usage & Common Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：written art (literature)

literature 🔊

/ˈlɪtərətʃər/

Written works that are considered to have high artistic quality and lasting importance, such as novels, plays, and poems.

written art 🔊

➕

/ˈrɪtn ɑːrt/

Refers to written works, especially those valued for their creative, artistic, and intellectual quality, including novels, poetry, and plays.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'litteratura' (writing), from 'littera' (letter of the alphabet).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a letter 'LIT'erally about great 'ART'. Remember the core: LIT(erature) = letters forming art.

📖 Example

She has a deep love for literature and spends most evenings reading classic novels from different countries. 🔊 She has a deep love for written art and spends most evenings reading classic novels from different countries.

🔗 Collocations

classic literature – enduring, historically significant works of writing

contemporary literature – modern works of writing from the current era

study of literature – the academic analysis and criticism of written works

🔄 Synonyms

fiction (n.) – A category within literature involving imagined stories and characters.

poetry (n.) – Literary work expressing ideas and emotions through distinctive style and rhythm.

drama (n.) – Plays as a literary genre intended for performance.

🚫 Antonyms

illiteracy (n.) – The inability to read or write, representing the absence of literary engagement.

🌱 Derivatives

literary (adj.) – Pertaining to or characteristic of literature.

literate (adj.) – Able to read and write; knowledgeable in a particular field.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from the Latin word for 'letter', it evolved to mean 'writing' and later specifically denoted works of artistic or scholarly value, reflecting the transition from basic literacy to high culture.

Meaning 2：printed materials (literature)

literature 🔊

/ˈlɪtərətʃər/

All the printed information available on a particular subject, like brochures, reports, or instructions.

printed materials 🔊

➕

/prɪntɪd məˈtɪəriəlz/

Refers to all the collected printed information on a specific subject, such as brochures, manuals, or research papers.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：中级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Before buying the new software, I read all the available literature online to understand its features. 🔊 Before buying the new software, I read all the available printed materials online to understand its features.

🔗 Collocations

product literature – printed information that describes and promotes a product

scientific literature – body of published academic papers and research on scientific topics

review the literature – to examine all the existing published material on a topic

🔄 Synonyms

documentation (n.) – Official or instructional printed material that provides information or evidence.

publications (n.) – Printed works that have been officially issued or made public.

brochures (n.) – Small booklets or pamphlets containing promotional or informational material.