- [countable] a book, film or song which is well known and considered to be of very high quality, setting standards for other books, etc.
- The film is now a cult classic.
- The song became an instant classic.
- The novel may become a modern classic.
- English classics such as ‘Alice in Wonderland’
- His book is something of a classic of the genre.
- one of the true classics of French cinema
Extra ExamplesTopics Literature and writingb2, Film and theatreb2- Charles Dickens's timeless classic, ‘Oliver Twist’
- one of the great classics of English literature
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- true
- minor
- …
- be
- become
- remain
- …
- be considered a classic
- classic of
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- [countable] a thing that is an excellent example of its kind
- That match was a classic.
- The second goal was an absolute classic.
- The professor's reply was a classic.
- a piece of clothing, a vehicle or other item that is admired for its beautiful style or design that is not affected by changes in fashion
- Classics don't lose their style.
- We pick out some collectors' cars and modern classics.
- Classics[uncountable] the study of ancient Greek and Roman culture, especially their languages and literature
- a degree in Classics
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- true
- minor
- …
- be
- become
- remain
- …
- be considered a classic
- classic of
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from French classique or Latin classicus ‘belonging to a class or division’, later ‘of the highest class’, from classis ‘a division of the Roman people, a grade, or a class of pupils’.
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classic