WordWeb Online

1. Creative writing of recognized artistic value
    
2. The humanistic study of a body of literature
   - lit
    
3. Published writings in a particular style on a particular subject
   "the technical literature"; "one aspect of Waterloo has not yet been treated in the literature"
    
4. The profession or art of a writer
   "her place in literature is secure"

Derived forms: literatures

See also: literary

Type of: literary study, piece of writing, profession, writing, written material

Encyclopedia: Literature Literature, English