aesthetic
Definitions
Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
审美的；美学的；讲究美感的
A particular style, look, or sense of beauty
审美风格；调性；美感取向
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedaesthet (Greek aisthētikos, perceiving by the senses) + -ic (relating to) = "relating to sense perception." In the 1700s the word narrowed from all sensing to the perception of beauty, so today aesthetic means concerned with beauty and taste — and as a noun, a particular look or style.
Root aesthet still carries 3 more wordsWhy It Means This
The word once covered all sense perception (its cousin anesthesia means "without sensation"). Philosopher Baumgarten repurposed it for the study of beauty, and that narrower sense won out. The recent noun use — "a clean aesthetic," "a vintage aesthetic" — turns the idea of beauty into a nameable style.
Common Collocations
- 1.aesthetic value美学价值
- 2.aesthetic appeal美感
- 3.a minimalist aesthetic极简美学风格
- 4.on aesthetic grounds出于审美考虑
Example Sentences
- 1.
The building is praised for its aesthetic appeal as much as its function.
- 2.
Her photos all share a soft, dreamy aesthetic.
- 3.
We made the decision on practical rather than aesthetic grounds.
- 4.
The brand has cultivated a minimalist aesthetic.
Easily Confused
aesthetic vs cosmetic — aesthetic is about genuine beauty and design quality; cosmetic is about surface appearance, often superficially (a cosmetic change fixes the look but not the substance). Real beauty/design → aesthetic; surface-only → cosmetic.