LITERATURE


Meaning of LITERATURE in English

lit ‧ e ‧ ra ‧ ture S3 W2 /ˈlɪt ə rətʃə $ -tʃʊr/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]

[ Word Family: noun : ↑ literature , ↑ literacy ≠ ↑ illiteracy , ↑ illiterate , ↑ literati ; adjective : ↑ literary , ↑ literate ≠ ↑ illiterate ]

[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin litteratura , from litteratus ; ⇨ ↑ literate ]

1 . books, plays, poems etc that people think are important and good:

He has read many of the major works of literature.

Italian literature

2 . all the books, articles etc on a particular subject

literature on

literature on the history of science

in the literature

Several cases of mercury poisoning have been recorded in the literature.

3 . printed information produced by people who want to sell you something or tell you about something:

sales literature

• • •

THESAURUS

■ types of book

▪ novel noun [countable] a book about imaginary people and events:

The film is based on Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel.

|

a historical novel

▪ fiction noun [uncountable] books that describe imaginary people and events:

She reads a lot of romantic fiction.

▪ literature noun [uncountable] novels and plays that are considered to be important works of art:

I’m studying American literature at university.

▪ non-fiction noun [uncountable] books that describe real people and events:

Men tend to prefer non-fiction.

▪ science fiction noun [uncountable] books about imaginary events in the future or space travel

▪ reference book noun [countable] a book such as a dictionary or encyclopedia, which you look at to find information

▪ textbook noun [countable] a book about a particular subject that you use in a classroom

▪ set book British English , course book British English noun [countable] a book that you have to study as part of your course

▪ guidebook noun [countable] a book telling visitors about a city or country

▪ picture book noun [countable] a book for children with many pictures in it

▪ hardcover/hardback noun [countable] a book that has a hard stiff cover

▪ paperback noun [countable] a book that has a paper cover

▪ biography noun [countable] a book about a real person’s life, written by another person

▪ autobiography noun [countable] a book that someone has written about their own life

▪ recipe book/cookery book British English ( also cookbook American English ) noun [countable] a book that tells you how to cook different meals

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.