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# literature

noun (literature — uncountable)

«literature» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Written works such as novels, poems and plays, especially ones thought to be good or important. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#m1)
2. The study of these works as a school or university subject. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#m2)
3. All the writing about a particular subject, such as science papers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#m3)
4. (informal) Printed information such as leaflets and booklets: free literature about the museum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#m4)

### In the lessons

In school, English literature lessons study stories, poems and plays and what they mean. In science and research, «the literature» means everything already published on a topic. In everyday life, «literature» can just mean leaflets. Phrases: English literature, children's literature, a work of literature, the literature on something.

### Examples

- We are reading poems in literature class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#x1)
- Shakespeare is a famous name in English literature. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#x2)
- Children's literature includes picture books and novels. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#x3)
- The museum gives out free literature at the door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#x4)
- My sister wants to study literature at university. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#x5)
- The scientist read all the literature on frogs before her experiment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#x6)
- Fairy tales are some of the oldest literature in the world. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#x7)
- Good literature makes you think and feel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/#x8)

### Note

Uncountable: say «a lot of literature» or «a work of literature», not «a literature» (except about a nation's writing: «Irish literature»). Spelling: litERATure, with -ture at the end. Adjective: literary. Do not confuse with «literal» (exact meaning) or «literacy» (being able to read and write).

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Jewish literature includes the Bible, the Talmud, midrash and Kabbalah. Sefer Yetzirah is called the hardest book in it to understand. In the primary lessons: In school, English literature lessons study stories, poems and plays and what they mean. In science and research, «the literature» means everything already published on a topic. In everyday life, «literature» can just mean leaflets. Phrases: English literature, children's literature, a work of literature, the literature on something.

### Examples

- A similar view is reflected in the midrashicic and Kabbalistic literature, where Torah or Wisdom acts as a participant or instrument in the Work of Creation; see e.g. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/literature/#x1)
- There is no book in Jewish literature that is so difficult to understand as the Sefer Yetzirah. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/literature/#x2)
- In kabbalistic literature, not only tiie vowel letter y. but all the letters are considered images of angels. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/literature/#x3)

### Note

Uncountable: say «a lot of literature» or «a work of literature», not «a literature» (except about a nation's writing: «Irish literature»). Spelling: litERATure, with -ture at the end. Adjective: literary. Do not confuse with «literal» (exact meaning) or «literacy» (being able to read and write).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «literature» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/literature/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«literature» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/literature.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «literature» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/literature/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«literature» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/literature.html) on Mova free.