classical meaning

classical means relating to traditional styles or ancient Greek and Roman culture.

classical :

traditional, ancient

adjective

▪ She enjoys listening to classical music.

▪ She likes listening to traditional music.

▪ The building has a classical design.

▪ The building has a traditional design.

paraphrasing

▪ traditional – classical

▪ antique – ancient

▪ timeless – classic

▪ historic – ancient

Pronunciation

classical [klæsɪkəl]

The stress is on the first syllable 'clas' and sounds like 'CLAS-i-cal'.

Common phrases and grammar about classical

classical - Common meaning

adjective
traditional, ancient

Part of Speech Changes for "classical"

▪ classic (noun) – a traditional example

▪ classicalism (noun) – adherence to traditional styles

Common Expressions with "classical"

▪ classical music – traditional music

▪ classical architecture – traditional building styles

▪ classical education – traditional teaching methods

▪ classical literature – ancient written works

Important examples of classical in TOEIC

Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test

In TOEIC word questions, classical is often used to describe traditional styles or relate to ancient cultures.

▪He prefers classical music over modern genres.
▪He likes traditional music more than new types.

Example of a confusing word: classic (timeless or exemplary)

▪He prefers classic music over modern genres.
▪He enjoys timeless music more than contemporary styles.
"Classical" refers to music or art that is traditional and often associated with the cultural achievements of ancient civilizations, such as classical music or classical architecture. In contrast, "classic" means something that is considered exemplary or timeless, like a "classic novel" or "classic car." While they sound similar, "classical" is specific to traditional styles, particularly in music, whereas "classic" is more general and can describe anything that has enduring value. Therefore, "classical" is the correct choice when referring to traditional music styles.

Grammar examples from the TOEIC test

As an adjective, classical modifies nouns to describe their traditional or ancient characteristics in TOEIC questions.

▪The company maintains a classical approach to management.
▪The company uses a traditional method for management.

classical

Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC

classical music

'traditional music styles', used when discussing types of music in passages.

▪She plays classical music at the café.
▪She plays traditional music at the café.

old-fashioned

means 'outdated or not modern', used to describe styles or methods.

▪The office has an old-fashioned layout.
▪The office has a not modern layout.

Differences between similar words and classical

classical

,

traditional

differences

classical refers to long-established styles or ancient culture, while traditional refers to customs or practices passed down through generations.

classical
▪She enjoys classical music.
▪She enjoys traditional music.
traditional
▪She prefers traditional music for its cultural value.
▪She prefers classical music for its structured composition.

classical

,

antique

differences

classical refers to styles or cultures from ancient times, while antique refers to objects that are old and collectible.

classical
▪The vase is a classical piece from ancient Greece.
▪The sculpture is an antique with intricate details.
antique
▪The sculpture is classical in its design.
▪The sculpture is an antique with intricate details.

Words with the same origin as classical

The origin of classical

classical comes from the Latin word 'classicus', which referred to the highest class of Roman citizens and later to traditional standards.

Word structure

It has the prefix 'class', the root 'class', and the suffix 'ical', so classical means 'related to class or tradition'.

Words with the same origin

The word's root is 'class'. Influential words with the same root include class, classification, classy, and classic.

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