arts

Everyday

1. The arts are activities like painting, drawing, music, dance, drama, film and writing, where people make things to express ideas and feelings. tree →
2. Arts (in school and university) are subjects about people and culture, like history, languages and literature, as opposed to sciences. tree →
3. Arts is also the plural of «art», meaning skills: «the arts of cooking and sewing». tree →

In the lessons

In school, «arts and crafts» is making things by hand, like collages, paper models and clay pots; «the performing arts» are music, dance and drama on a stage. «Martial arts» are fighting sports like karate and judo. Phrases: «arts and crafts», «the arts», «performing arts», «martial arts», «arts centre», «Bachelor of Arts».

Examples

• We do arts and crafts every Friday. tree →
• She loves the arts, especially dance and music. tree →
• Karate is one of the martial arts. tree →
• The town has a new arts centre. tree →
• Our school has a performing arts show in the summer. tree →
• My cousin studies arts at university. tree →
• The festival celebrates the arts. tree →
• We made puppets in arts and crafts. tree →

Note

«Art» on its own usually means pictures and sculptures (uncountable: «I like art»). «The arts» is plural and broader. «Arts» vs «sciences» is a way of grouping school or university subjects.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah "secret arts" are the tricks or magic of Pharaoh's magicians.

Interpretation. Tradition says the magicians could copy some wonders, such as the frogs, but not the gnats. This is taken as showing the limits of their power and that Moses' wonders came from God.

Examples

• And the magicians did in like manner with their secret arts, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. (Torah EXO.8.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their secret arts. (Torah EXO.7.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the magicians did so with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; and there were gnats upon man, and upon beast. (Torah EXO.8.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Art» on its own usually means pictures and sculptures (uncountable: «I like art»). «The arts» is plural and broader. «Arts» vs «sciences» is a way of grouping school or university subjects.