aesthetics Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (art) the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste (emphasizing the evaluative criteria that are applied to art)
    esthetics.
    • traditional aesthetics assumed the existence of universal and timeless criteria of artistic value
  2. noun (philosophy) a philosophical theory as to what is beautiful
    esthetic; aesthetic.
    • he despised the esthetic of minimalism

WordNet

Æs*thet"ics, Es*thet"ics noun (Also<
  • AEsthetics
  • Æsthetics
  • Esthetics
)
Etymology
Gr. perceptive, esp. by feeling, fr. to perceive, feel: cf. G. ästhetik, F. esthétique.
Definitions
  1. The theory or philosophy of taste; the science of the beautiful in nature and art; esp. that which treats of the expression and embodiment of beauty by art.

Webster 1913