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

exhibition

noun
 
/ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/
 
/ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/
Idioms
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  1. (especially British English)
    (North American English usually exhibit)
    [countable] a collection of things, for example works of art, that are shown to the public
    • Have you seen the Picasso exhibition?
    • to hold/organize an exhibition
    • an art exhibition
    • His first solo exhibition took place in Barcelona in 1925.
    • an exhibition of something an exhibition of paintings/photographs
    • The gallery is hosting an exhibition of his work.
    • exhibition on somebody/something She is currently preparing an exhibition on Van Gogh and Expressionism.
    • in an exhibition His sculptures have been featured in exhibitions all over the world.
    • at an exhibition The paintings are on display at an exhibition which opened on Friday.
    Collocations Fine artsFine artsCreating art
    • make a work of art/​a drawing/​a sketch/​a sculpture/​a statue/​engravings/​etchings/​prints
    • do an oil painting/​a self-portrait/​a line drawing/​a rough sketch
    • create a work of art/​an artwork/​paintings and sculptures
    • produce paintings/​portraits/​oil sketches/​her most celebrated work/​a series of prints
    • paint a picture/​landscape/​portrait/​mural/​in oils/​in watercolours/(US English) in watercolors/​on canvas
    • draw a picture/​a portrait/​a cartoon/​a sketch/​a line/​a figure/​the human form/​in charcoal/​in ink
    • sketch a preliminary drawing/​a figure/​a shape
    • carve a figure/​an image/​a sculpture/​reliefs/​a block of wood
    • sculpt a portrait bust/​a statue/​an abstract figure
    • etch a line/​a pattern/​a design/​a name into the glass
    • mix colours/(US English) colors/​pigments/​paints
    • add/​apply thin/​thick layers of paint/​colour/(US English) color/​pigment
    • use oil pastels/​charcoal/​acrylic paint/​a can of spray paint
    • work in bronze/​ceramics/​stone/​oils/​pastels/​watercolour/​a wide variety of media
    Describing art
    • paint/​depict a female figure/​a rural scene/​a pastoral landscape/​a domestic interior
    • depict/​illustrate a traditional/​mythological/​historical/​religious theme
    • create an abstract composition/​a richly textured surface/​a distorted perspective
    • paint dark/​rich/​skin/​flesh tones
    • use broad brush strokes/​loose brushwork/​vibrant colours/​a limited palette/​simple geometric forms
    • develop/​adopt/​paint in a stylized manner/​an abstract style
    Showing and selling art
    • commission a new piece/​a bronze bust of somebody/​a portrait/​a religious work/​an artist to paint something
    • frame a painting/​portrait
    • hang art/​a picture/​a painting
    • display/​exhibit modern art/​somebody’s work/​a collection/​original artwork/​drawings/​sculptures/​a piece/​a painting
    • be displayed/​hung in a gallery/​museum
    • install/​place a sculpture in/​at/​on something
    • erect/​unveil a bronze/​marble/​life-size statue
    • hold/​host/​mount/​open/​curate/​see an exhibition (especially British English)/(North American English usually) an exhibit
    • be/​go on (British English) exhibition/(North American English) exhibit
    • feature/​promote/​showcase a conceptual artist/​contemporary works
    • collect contemporary art/​modern British paintings/​Japanese prints
    • restore/​preserve a fresco/​great works of art
    Extra Examples
    • the catalogue for a recent exhibition at the museum
    • She is to be the subject of a major exhibition next year.
    • The exhibition includes drawings by Rembrandt.
    • The exhibition is on view from 11 April to 5 July.
    • The exhibition moves on to the National Gallery, Washington, next month.
    • The exhibition opens at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in July.
    • The museum hosted a big exhibition of her work last year.
    • There is a series of special exhibitions throughout the year.
    • They plan to stage an art exhibition in a nearby town.
    • a major exhibition of the painter's work
    • a touring exhibition of Impressionist drawings
    • an exhibition devoted to women painters
    • an exhibition illustrating the history and development of the university
    • an exhibition on local history
    • the international food trade exhibition in Cologne
    • The exhibition centre was built in 1999.
    Topics Artb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • large
    • small
    verb + exhibition
    • have
    • hold
    • host
    exhibition + verb
    • open
    • close
    • end
    exhibition + noun
    • area
    • centre/​center
    • floor
    preposition
    • on exhibition
    • exhibition of
    • exhibition on
    See full entry
  2. (especially British English)
    (North American English usually exhibit)
    [uncountable] the act of showing something, for example works of art, to the public
    • exhibition of something She refused to allow the exhibition of her husband's work.
    • on exhibition The portrait is going on public exhibition for the first time.
    • Hundreds of companies had exhibition stands.
    • The new wing will provide 20 000 more square feet of exhibition space.
  3. [singular] an exhibition of something (formal) the act of showing a skill, a feeling, or a kind of behaviour
    • We were treated to an exhibition of the footballer's speed and skill.
    • an appalling exhibition of bad manners
  4. [countable] (British English) an amount of money that is given as a prize to a student
  5. Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘maintenance, support’; hence sense (4), mid 17th cent.): via Old French from late Latin exhibitio(n-), from Latin exhibere ‘hold out’, from ex- ‘out’ + habere ‘hold’.
Idioms
make an exhibition of yourself
  1. (disapproving) to behave in a bad or stupid way in public
    • I'm afraid I lost my temper and made an exhibition of myself.
See exhibition in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee exhibition in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
perfectly
adverb
 
 
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