attic

¹ American  

[at-ik] / ˈæt ɪk /

noun

1. the part of a building, especially of a house, directly under a roof; garret.

2. a room or rooms in an attic.

3. a low story or decorative wall above an entablature or the main cornice of a building.

4. Anatomy. the upper part of the tympanic cavity of the ear.

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Attic ² American  

[at-ik] / ˈæt ɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Greece or of Athens.

2. (often lowercase) displaying simple elegance, incisive intelligence, and delicate wit.

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noun

1. the dialect of ancient Attica that became the standard language of Classical Greek literature in the 5th and 4th centuries b.c.

Attic ¹ British  

/ ˈætɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to Attica, its inhabitants, or the dialect of Greek spoken there, esp in classical times

2. (often not capital) classically elegant, simple, or pure

   an Attic style

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noun

1. the dialect of Ancient Greek spoken and written in Athens: the chief literary dialect of classical Greek See also Aeolic Arcadic Doric Ionic

attic ² British  

/ ˈætɪk /

noun

1. a space or room within the roof of a house

2. architect a storey or low wall above the cornice of a classical façade

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Other Word Forms

• non-Attic adjective

Etymology

Origin of attic¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; special use of Attic

Origin of Attic²

1555–65; < Latin Atticus < Greek Attikós

Example Sentences

Edith Wharton is a moth-eaten gown in the musty attic of American literature.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s a pigeon loft in the attic space above the garage.

From Literature

After dinner, Doc and Jackson took over the living room to watch a show where people brought their attic and garage junk for collectors to get help fixing them up.

From Literature

This room must have been an attic once.

From Literature

The house is comfortable as it is, but I would like to pursue additional upgrades, such as installing new cabinetry and countertops and renovating the attic into a livable space.

From MarketWatch