attic

1 of 3

noun (1)

at·​tic ˈa-tik How to pronounce attic (audio)
1
: a low story or wall above the main order of a facade in the classical styles
2
: a room behind an attic
3
: a room or a space immediately below the roof of a building : garret
4
: something resembling an attic (as in being used for storage)

Attic

2 of 3

adjective

At·​tic ˈa-tik How to pronounce Attic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of Athens or its ancient civilization
2
: marked by simplicity, purity, and refinement
an Attic prose style

Attic

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a dialect of ancient Greek originally used in Attica and later the literary language of the Greek-speaking world

Examples of attic in a Sentence

Noun (1) rented the attic out to a college student
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Not long ago, just before the show’s opening, Karp and Martin were running lines in a cluttered attic above the Pleasance. Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 Only get on your roof if necessary, and don’t climb into a closed attic. Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 5 Feb. 2024 He was cast as Peter Van Damme, one of the eight people who hid with Anne in her attic, and her eventual boyfriend. Luis G. Rendon, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 The bags will keep everything neat and organized while being stored out of the way in your closet, attic, or basement. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024 The mansion also has a second primary bedroom suite on the second floor, along with an attic on the third level. Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024 In 1999, Howard Steven Ault was convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl in front of her 7-year-old sister before strangling both girls and shoving their bodies in his attic. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2024 When officers entered the home, Top went to the attic and barricaded herself, according to police. Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Feb. 2024 As a child growing up in rural Missouri, Tinsley depended on a school library and her grandmother’s attic for books and reading. Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
Adjective
When not in his room, Green headed upstairs to The Attic restaurant where there’s a specialty gin cocktail called the Dale Cooper. Partner Content, Variety, 16 Jan. 2024 Rain, who formed and performed in a band called Aleka's Attic with River, also honored her late brother through art. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023 Her debut album Boots was reissued by Light in the Attic Records two years ago. Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2023 Upstart labels like Light In The Attic and Soundway Records have stepped in as a new curating force to sprinkle into the growing vinyl record market new editions of remastered compilations. Will Cady, Spin, 21 Aug. 2023 The reissue record label Light in the Attic calls the compilation one of the key entries in the underwater music genre. Hazlitt, 23 Nov. 2022 Investigators seized the Attic Greek cup from the Met last year. Tom Mashberg, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2023 Other returning venues on board include the Schooner Bar, Boleros, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, The Attic comedy club, Spotlight Karaoke and Music Hall that features house tribute bands. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'attic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French attique, from attique of Attica, from Latin Atticus

Adjective

Latin Atticus of Attica, from Greek Attikos, from Attikē Attica, Greece

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of attic was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near attic

Cite this Entry

“Attic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

attic

1 of 2 noun
at·​tic ˈat-ik How to pronounce attic (audio)
: a room or a space just below the roof of a building

Attic

2 of 2 adjective
At·​tic
ˈat-ik
: of or relating to Athens
Etymology

Noun

from French attique "attic," from attique (an adjective) "of Attica," from Latin Atticus "of Attica"

Word Origin
In ancient Greece the region around Athens was known as Attica, and many of the buildings in Attica had a special feature of a second wall that extended above the top of the main wall or row of columns supporting the roof. When builders in Europe later copied this feature of Attica's buildings, their buildings were said to be in the style of Attica, or the Attic style. Eventually, the word attic came to be used as a noun to refer to this upper wall and later to a room behind the wall under the roof. Today we refer to any room just underneath the roof as the attic, even when the building is not in the style of those in ancient Attica.

Medical Definition

attic

noun
at·​tic ˈat-ik How to pronounce attic (audio)
: the small upper space of the middle ear

called also epitympanic recess

More from Merriam-Webster on attic

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