noun

literature

LIHT-ruh-chuh

noun

Written works, especially novels, plays, and poetry, valued for their artistic quality.

"She's studying nineteenth-century Russian literature at university."

"His favorite piece of literature is a collection of short stories by Chekhov."

The body of published research or writing on a particular academic subject.

"The paper begins with a review of the existing literature on climate migration."

How to Use Literature

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGreat or notable written works, or the full set of published writing on a topic.

Common pairings

classic literature a review of the literature works of literature

literatures plural

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She's studying nineteenth-century Russian _____ at university.

From Old French littérature, from Latin litteratura ("writing, grammar"), from littera ("letter").

pure cure sure lure Kure azure nature future manure secure impure injure