/ ˈɑːtɪst; NAmE ˈɑːrt-/ noun
1.
a person who creates works of art, especially paintings or drawings :
an exhibition of work by contemporary British artists
a graphic artist
a make-up artist
Police have issued an artist's impression of her attacker.
( figurative )
Whoever made this cake is a real artist.
2.
= artiste :
a recording / solo artist
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent. (denoting a master of the liberal arts): from French artiste , from Italian artista , from arte art, from Latin ars , art- .