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Definition of literature noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

literature

noun
 
/ˈlɪtrətʃə(r)/
 
/ˈlɪtrətʃər/,
 
/ˈlɪtrətʃʊr/
[uncountable]
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  1. pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, especially novels, plays and poems (in contrast to technical books and newspapers, magazines, etc.)
    • English/American/French literature
    • children's literature
    • great works of literature
    • For most people, the desire to study literature begins with a love of reading.
    see also comparative literature
    Collocations LiteratureLiteratureBeing a writer
    • write/​publish literature/​poetry/​fiction/​a book/​a story/​a poem/​a novel/​a review/​an autobiography
    • become a writer/​novelist/​playwright
    • find/​have a publisher/​an agent
    • have a new book out
    • edit/​revise/​proofread a book/​text/​manuscript
    • dedicate a book/​poem to…
    Plot, character and atmosphere
    • construct/​create/​weave/​weave something into a complex narrative
    • advance/​drive the plot
    • introduce/​present the protagonist/​a character
    • describe/​depict/​portray a character (as…)/(somebody as) a hero/​villain
    • create an exciting/​a tense atmosphere
    • build/​heighten the suspense/​tension
    • evoke/​capture the pathos of the situation
    • convey emotion/​an idea/​an impression/​a sense of…
    • engage the reader
    • seize/​capture/​grip the (reader’s) imagination
    • arouse/​elicit emotion/​sympathy (in the reader)
    • lack imagination/​emotion/​structure/​rhythm
    Language, style and imagery
    • use/​employ language/​imagery/​humour/(US English) humor/​an image/​a symbol/​a metaphor/​a device
    • use/​adopt/​develop a style/​technique
    • be rich in/​be full of symbolism
    • evoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…
    • create/​achieve an effect
    • maintain/​lighten the tone
    • introduce/​develop an idea/​a theme
    • inspire a novel/​a poet/​somebody’s work/​somebody’s imagination
    Reading and criticism
    • read an author/​somebody’s work/​fiction/​poetry/​a text/​a poem/​a novel/​a chapter/​a passage
    • review a book/​a novel/​somebody’s work
    • give something/​get/​have/​receive a good/​bad review
    • be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece
    • quote a(n) phrase/​line/​stanza/​passage/​author
    • provoke/​spark discussion/​criticism
    • study/​interpret/​understand a text/​passage
    • translate somebody’s work/​a text/​a passage/​a novel/​a poem
    Topics Literature and writingb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • classical
    • contemporary
    • modern
    … of literature
    • piece
    • work
    verb + literature
    • read
    • study
    • teach
    See full entry
  2. pieces of writing or printed information on a particular subject
    • sales literature
    • literature on something a review of the scientific literature on the topic
    • I've read all the available literature on keeping rabbits.
    • literature about something I picked up some literature about pensions.
    • Chapter 1 reviews the literature and discusses the main types of sources available.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • extensive
    • vast
    • voluminous
    … of literature
    • body
    preposition
    • literature about
    • literature concerning
    • literature on
    See full entry
  3. Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘knowledge of books’): via French from Latin litteratura, from littera ‘letter of the alphabet’, (plural) ‘epistle, literature, culture’.
See literature in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee literature in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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