n.
- (used with a sing. verb)
- The branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and expression of beauty, as in the fine arts.
- In Kantian philosophy, the branch of metaphysics concerned with the laws of perception.
- (used with a sing. verb) The study of the psychological responses to beauty and artistic experiences.
- (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A conception of what is artistically valid or beautiful: minimalist aesthetics.
- (used with a sing. or pl. verb) An artistically beautiful or pleasing appearance: "They're looking for quality construction, not aesthetics" (Ron Schram).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
