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abacus
a calculator that performs arithmetic functions by manually sliding counters on rods or in grooves
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abecedarian
alphabetically arranged (as for beginning readers)
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abrade
rub hard or scrub
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abrasion
erosion by friction
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abrasive
causing abrasion
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absorbent
having power or capacity or tendency to absorb or soak up something (liquids or energy etc.)
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absorption
(chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid
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abstract art
an abstract genre of art; artistic content depends on internal form rather than pictorial representation
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Abstract Expressionism
a New York school of painting characterized by freely created abstractions; the first important school of American painting to develop independently of European styles
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abstraction
the process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances
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absurd
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
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academic
associated with academia or an academy
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academician
an educator who works at a college or university
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academy
a learned establishment for the advancement of knowledge
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acanthus
any plant of the genus Acanthus having large spiny leaves and spikes or white or purplish flowers; native to Mediterranean region but widely cultivated
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accelerator
a pedal that controls the throttle valve
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accent
special importance or significance
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accession
the act of attaining or gaining access to a new office or right or position (especially the throne)
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accident
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
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accidental
happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
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acculturation
the adoption of the behavior patterns of the surrounding culture
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accuracy
the quality of being near to the true value
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acetate
a fabric made from fibers of cellulose acetate
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acetic acid
a colorless pungent liquid widely used in manufacturing plastics and pharmaceuticals
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acetone
the simplest ketone; a highly inflammable liquid widely used as an organic solvent and as material for making plastics
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acetylene
a colorless flammable gas used chiefly in welding and in organic synthesis
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achieve
to gain with effort
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achievement
the action of accomplishing something
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achromatic
having no hue
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acid
any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
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acquisition
something acquired
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acropolis
the citadel in ancient Greek towns
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acrylic
a glassy thermoplastic; can be cast and molded or used in coatings and adhesives
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action painting
a New York school of painting characterized by freely created abstractions; the first important school of American painting to develop independently of European styles
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aculeate
having or resembling a stinger or barb
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acute angle
an angle less than 90 degrees but more than 0 degrees
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additive
characterized or produced by addition
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adhesive
tending to adhere
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adobe
sun-dried brick; used in hot dry climates
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advertising
the business of drawing public attention to goods and services
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advocacy
active support of an idea or cause etc.; especially the act of pleading or arguing for something
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adze
an edge tool used to cut and shape wood
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aesthetics
(art) the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste (emphasizing the evaluative criteria that are applied to art)
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after
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
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afterimage
an image (usually a negative image) that persists after stimulation has ceased
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aggregate
a sum total of many heterogenous things taken together
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agitprop
political propaganda (especially communist propaganda) communicated via art and literature and cinema
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airbrush
an atomizer to spray paint by means of compressed air
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aisle
a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
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alabaster
a compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving
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aleatory
dependent on chance
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alias
a name that has been assumed temporarily
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allegoric
used in or characteristic of or containing allegory
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allegory
a short moral story (often with animal characters)
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altar
a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made
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altarpiece
a painted or carved screen placed above and behind an altar or communion table
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aluminum
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
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ambiguity
unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning
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ampersand
a punctuation mark (&) used to represent conjunction (and)
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amphitheater
an oval large stadium with tiers of seats; an arena in which contests and spectacles are held
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amphora
an ancient jar with two handles and a narrow neck; used to hold oil or wine
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amulet
a trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to be a magical protection against evil or disease
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anamorphosis
a distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner
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anatomy
the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals
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androgyny
showing characteristics of both sexes
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angel
spiritual being attendant upon God
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Angst
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Animalia
taxonomic kingdom comprising all living or extinct animals
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animation
quality of being active or spirited or alive and vigorous
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anime
any of various resins or oleoresins
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antefix
carved ornament at the eaves of a tile roof concealing the joints between tiles
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anthropomorphism
the representation of objects (especially a god) as having human form or traits
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antimony
a metallic element having four allotropic forms; used in a wide variety of alloys; found in stibnite
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anvil
a heavy block of iron or steel on which hot metals are shaped by hammering
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anxiety
a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune
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aphorism
a short pithy instructive saying
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Apollo
(Greek mythology) Greek god of light; god of prophecy and poetry and music and healing; son of Zeus and Leto; twin brother of Artemis
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applique
a decorative design made of one material sewn over another
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apprentice
works for an expert to learn a trade
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appropriation
a deliberate act of acquisition of something, often without the permission of the owner
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apse
a domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building especially the east end of a church; usually contains the altar
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aquatint
a method of etching that imitates the broad washes of a water color
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aqueduct
a conduit that resembles a bridge but carries water over a valley
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arabesque
position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind and arms outstretched in a conventional pose
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arcade
a structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns
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arch
(architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it
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architect
someone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)
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architectonic
of or pertaining to construction or architecture
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architecture
the discipline dealing with the principles of design and construction and ornamentation of fine buildings
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armour
protective covering made of metal and used in combat
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arrangement
an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging
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art critic
a critic of paintings
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art deco
a style of design that was popular in the 1920s and 1930s; marked by stylized forms and geometric designs adapted to mass production
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art history
the academic discipline that studies the development of painting and sculpture
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art nouveau
a French school of art and architecture popular in the 1890s; characterized by stylized natural forms and sinuous outlines of such objects as leaves and vines and flowers
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artist
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
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Ashcan School
a group of United States painters founded in 1907 and noted for their realistic depictions of sordid aspects of city life
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aspect ratio
the ratio of the width to the height of a tv picture
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asymmetry
(mathematics) a lack of symmetry
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atrium
any chamber that is connected to other chambers or passageways (especially one of the two upper chambers of the heart)
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attribute
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of an entity
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audience
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
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auditory
of or relating to the process of hearing
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aureole
the outermost region of the sun's atmosphere; visible as a white halo during a solar eclipse
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automatism
any reaction that occurs automatically without conscious thought or reflection (especially the undirected behavior seen in psychomotor epilepsy)
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avatar
the manifestation of a Hindu deity (especially Vishnu) in human or superhuman or animal form
