lit·er·a·ture (l?t??r-?-cho?or?, -ch?r)n.1. The body of written works of a language, period, or culture.2. Imaginative or creative writing, especially of recognized artistic value: “Literature must be an analysis of experience and a synthesis of the findings into a unity” (Rebecca West).3. The art or occupation of a literary writer.4. The body of written work produced by scholars or researchers in a given field: medical literature.5. Printed material: collected all the available literature on the subject.6. Music All the compositions of a certain kind or for a specific instrument or ensemble: the symphonic literature.[Middle English, book learning, from Old French litterature, from Latin litter?t?ra, from litter?tus, lettered; see literate.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.literature (?l?t?r?t??; ?l?tr?-) n1. written material such as poetry, novels, essays, etc, esp works of imagination characterized by excellence of style and expression and by themes of general or enduring interest2. the body of written work of a particular culture or people: Scandinavian literature. 3. written or printed matter of a particular type or on a particular subject: scientific literature; the literature of the violin. 4. printed material giving a particular type of information: sales literature. 5. the art or profession of a writer6. obsolete learning[C14: from Latin litter?t?ra writing; see letter]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014lit?er?a?ture (?l?t ?r ? t??r, -?t???r, ?l? tr?-) n. 1. writing in prose or verse regarded as having permanent worth through its intrinsic excellence. 2. the entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people, etc. 3. the writings dealing with a particular subject. 4. the profession of a writer or author. 5. literary work or production. 6. any kind of printed material, as circulars, leaflets, or handbills. 7. Archaic. literary culture; appreciation of letters and books. [1375?1425; late Middle English