classic

classic

I

clas‧sic¹ W3 AC /ˈklæsɪk/ adjective [usually before noun]
1.  TYPICAL having all the features that are typical or expected of a particular thing or situation
    classic example/mistake/case etc
    Too many job hunters make the classic mistake of thinking only about what’s in it for them.
2.  ADMIRED admired by many people, and having a value that has continued for a long time:
    The Coca-Cola bottle is one of the classic designs of the last century.
    a collection of classic cars
3.  VERY GOOD of excellent quality:
    Roy scored a classic goal in the 90th minute.
4.  TRADITIONAL a classic style of art or clothing is attractive in a simple traditional way ⇨ classical:
    She chose a classic navy suit for the ceremony.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ typical a typical person or thing is a good example of that type of person or thing: With his camera around his neck, he looked like a typical tourist. | The windows are typical of houses built during this period.
   ▪ classic used to describe a very typical and very good example of something: It was a classic case of the cure being worse than the disease. | a classic mistake | The book is a classic example of great teamwork.
   ▪ archetypal the archetypal person or thing is the most typical example of that kind of person or thing, and has all their most important qualities: the archetypal English village | Indiana Jones is the archetypal adventure hero.
   ▪ quintessential used when you want to emphasize that someone or something is the very best example of something – used especially when you admire them very much: the quintessential guide to New York | Robert Plant is the quintessential rock ‘n’ roll singer.
   ▪ stereotypical having the characteristics that many people believe a particular type of person or thing has – used when you think these beliefs are not true: Hollywood films are full of stereotypical images of women as wives and mothers. | He challenges stereotypical ideas about people with disabilities.
   ▪ representative containing the most common types of people or things that are found in something, and showing what it is usually like: a representative sample of college students
   ▪ characteristic very typical of a particular type of thing, or of someone’s character or usual behaviour: Each species of bird has its own characteristic song. | What gives Paris its characteristic charm? | He played with his characteristic skill. | the characteristic symptoms of the disease
   ▪ be the epitome of something to be the best possible example of a particular type of person or thing or of a particular quality: His house was thought to be the epitome of good taste.

II

classic² AC noun [countable]
1. a book, play, or film that is important and has been admired for a long time:
    ‘La Grande Illusion’ is one of the classics of French cinema.
    all-time/modern/design etc classic
    The play has become an American classic.
2. something that is very good and one of the best examples of its kind:
    What makes a car a classic?
3. classics [plural] the language, literature, and history of ancient Rome and Greece ⇨ classicist:
    Judith studied classics at Oxford.