Definition

1. Noun:
   • Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit: "Literature" refers to written works, particularly those valued for their form, expression, and ideas. This includes novels, poems, plays, and essays.
   • The body of written works on a particular subject: "Literature" can also denote all the published information, such as books and articles, concerning a specific field or topic.
   • The art or profession of a writer: "Literature" can refer to the activity or career of writing such artistic works.
   • The body of written work produced in a particular language, country, or period: "Literature" can describe the collective writings of a culture or era.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She is studying English literature from the 19th century.
  • There is an extensive scientific literature on climate change.
  • He decided to pursue a career in literature.
  • French literature is rich and varied.

Advanced Usage

• "the literature": This phrase is commonly used in academic and professional contexts to refer to the collective body of published research and scholarship on a subject.
  • Before designing the experiment, we must review the literature thoroughly.
• "in the literature": Used to state that something has been documented or discussed in published works.
  • This phenomenon is well-documented in the literature.

Variants and Related Words

• Literary (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of formal, artistic writing or the study of such writing.
  • He has a very literary style.
• Literate (adj): Able to read and write; knowledgeable or educated in a particular field.
  • She is highly literate in computer science.

Synonyms

• Writings: The collected works of an author or on a subject.
• Canon: A body of works considered to be authoritative or central to a tradition.
• Scholarship: The academic work or publications on a subject (especially for non-fiction contexts).

Related Phrases

• Body of literature: The complete collection of written works on a topic.
  • The body of literature on this theory is growing.
• Review of the literature: A systematic survey and summary of existing publications on a research topic.
  • The first chapter of her thesis is a review of the literature.

Related Idioms

• "Required reading": While not an idiom with "literature," this phrase refers to essential texts in a field, often considered part of its foundational literature.
  • That paper is required reading for anyone in the field.

Noun

1. the profession or art of a writer
   • her place in literature is secure
2. published writings in a particular style on a particular subject
   • the technical literature
   • one aspect of Waterloo has not yet been treated in the literature
3. the humanistic study of a body of literature
   • he took a course in Russian lit
4. creative writing of recognized artistic value