[lit.er.a.ture] n [ME, fr. L litteratura writing, grammar, learning, fr. litteratus] (14c) 1 archaic: literary culture
2: the production of literary work esp. as an occupation 3 a (1): writings in prose or verse; esp: 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 ~, 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 ~" d: printed matter (as leaflets or circulars) "campaign ~"
4: the aggregate of a usu. specified type of musical compositions "Brahms piano ~"