n.
Pronunciation: ' li-t ə -r ə - ˌ chu ̇ r, ' li-tr ə - ˌ chu ̇ r, ' li-t ə (r)- ˌ chu ̇ r, -ch ə r, - ˌ tyu ̇ r, - ˌ tu ̇ r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin litteratura writing, grammar, learning, from litteratus
Date: 14th century
1 archaic : literary culture
2 : the production of literary work especially as an occupation
3 a (1) : writings in prose or verse especially : writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest (2) : an example of such writings <what came out, though rarely literature , was always a roaring good story ― People > b : the body of written works produced in a particular language, country, or age c : the body of writings on a particular subject <scientific literature > d : printed matter (as leaflets or circulars) <campaign literature >
4 : the aggregate of a usually specified type of musical compositions