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Slang dictionary results for aesthetic

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aesthetic

American  

[es-thet-ik, ees-] / ɛsˈθɛt ɪk, is- /

Or esthetic

adjective

1. relating to the philosophy of aesthetics; concerned with notions such as the beautiful and the ugly.

2. relating to the science of aesthetics; concerned with the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.

3. having a sense of the beautiful; characterized by a love of beauty.

   Synonyms:

   refined, cultivated, discriminating

4. relating to, involving, or concerned with pure emotion and sensation as opposed to pure intellectuality.

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noun

1. the philosophical theory or set of principles governing the idea of beauty at a given time and place.

   the clean lines, bare surfaces, and sense of space that bespeak the machine-age aesthetic;

   the Cubist aesthetic.

2. a particular individual’s set of ideas about style and taste, along with its expression.

   the designer’s aesthetic of accessible, wearable fashion;

   a great aesthetic on her blog.

3. one’s set of principles or worldview as expressed through outward appearance, behavior, or actions.

   the democratic aesthetic of the abolitionists.

4. Archaic. the study of the nature of sensation.

aesthetic British  

/ ɪs-, iːsˈθɛtɪk /

adjective

1. connected with aesthetics or its principles

2. 1. relating to pure beauty rather than to other considerations

   2. artistic or relating to good taste

      an aesthetic consideration

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noun

1. a principle of taste or style adopted by a particular person, group, or culture

   the Bauhaus aesthetic of functional modernity

Usage

What else does aesthetic mean? Aesthetic concerns what is considered beautiful. In pop culture, an aesthetic refers to the overall style of someone or something, like a musical sound, interior design, or even a social-media presence. In the 2010s, the term became closely associated with vaporwave culture on Tumblr.

Other Word Forms

• aesthetically
  adverb
• nonaesthetic
  adjective
• pseudoaesthetic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of aesthetic

First recorded in 1795–1800; from New Latin aesthēticus, from Greek aisthētikós “pertaining to sense perception, perceptible, sensitive,” equivalent to aisthēt(ḗs) ( see aesthete) + -ikos -ic

Explanation

The adjective aesthetic comes in handy when the subject at hand is beauty or the arts. A velvet painting of dogs playing poker might have minimal aesthetic appeal. Aesthetic, from a Greek word meaning "perception," comes to us from German philosophers who used it for a theory of the beautiful. From this technical sense, it soon came to refer to good taste and to artistry in general; if something has "aesthetic value," it has value as a work of art (even if nobody will pay much for it). It does not, however, refer to the objects themselves; do not talk about an "aesthetic painting."

Example Sentences

Their adoption has become so widespread that the country’s two main plastic surgery associations — the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Aesthetic Society — are now monitoring their emerging effect on the industry.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 29, 2024

But on Pinterest, you can find "granola core," "granola mom," and "granola style," with recent pointers for where to shop for your "Granola Girl Aesthetic."

From Salon • Sep. 17, 2023

Aesthetic: “There’s a lot of things in ‘The Last of Us’ having to do with nature taking back the earth without mankind getting in the way,” says director of photography Eben Bolter.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2023

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said the risks involved in the procedure can be "significant" especially when fillers are "injected blindly into the buttocks".

From BBC • May 11, 2023

Aesthetic idealism falsifies experience and discredits moral distinctions, 246.

From The Moral Economy by Perry, Ralph Barton

Related Words

• artistic
• creative