Definition:
: a particular theory or conception of beauty or art : a particular taste for or approach to what is pleasing to the senses and especially sight
Example:
"[Univ. of Illinois professor Cele Otnes] likens [Downton Abbey] to Mad Men – 'It's not just a television program, it's really an aesthetic' – and cites reported rises in sales of cravats, waistcoats and sherry as evidence of a 'Downton' – driven appetite for Edwardian elegance." — Jill Lawless, Associated Press, August 15, 2013
About the Word:
Aesthetic is rooted in the Greek term for "to perceive." In its plural form, aesthetics refers to a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty, art, and taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. This sense of the word isn't as common as the one above, but students may encounter it in course catalogs.
