language note: The spelling Platonic is also used for meaning [sense 2].
1. adjective
Platonic relationships or feelings of affection do not involve sex.
She values the platonic friendship she has had with Chris for ten years.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Platonic means relating to the ideas of the Greek philosopher Plato.
...the Platonic tradition of Greek philosophy.
Platonic in British English
(pləˈtɒnɪk)
adjective
1.
of or relating to Plato or his teachings
2. (often not capital)
free from physical desire
Platonic love
Derived forms
Platonically (Plaˈtonically)
adverb
Platonic in American English
(pləˈtɑnɪk; pleɪˈtɑnɪk)
adjective
1.
of or characteristic of Plato or his philosophy
2.
idealistic, visionary, or impractical
3. [usuallyp-]
designating or of a relationship, or love, between a man and a woman that is purely spiritual or intellectual and without sexual activity
Derived forms
platonically (plaˈtonically)
adverb
Word origin
L Platonicus < Gr Platōnikos
Examples of 'Platonic' in a sentence
Platonic
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
In many ways, you can have a much more intense platonic and romantic relationship.
The Sun (2012)
He says one thing can be two things at once, and that this disproves the fundamental Platonic notion of `ideals'.
Nicola Barker BEHINDLINGS (2002)
Above the 9 you can reckon it's inborn: beauty, a quality, an essence, a Platonic ideal.
Fay Weldon NOTHING TO WEAR AND NOWHERE TO HIDE: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES
Platonic relationships with the opposite sex had worked for him.
Martin, Joy THE IMAGE OF LAURA
After looking at me blankly for a few minutes (I was preparing my declaration of Platonic love), she suddenly began crying into her hands.
George Cockcroft THE DICE MAN (1971)
In other languages
platonic
British English: platonic ADJECTIVE
Platonic relationships or feelings of affection do not involve sex.
She values the platonic friendship she has had with him for ten years.
American English: platonic
Brazilian Portuguese: platônico
Chinese: 柏拉图式的
European Spanish: platónico
French: platonique
German: platonisch
Italian: platonico
Japanese: プラトニックな
Korean: 정신적인
European Portuguese: platónico
Latin American Spanish: platónico
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'platonic'
Platonic body
any of the five possible regular polyhedra : cube, tetrahedron , octahedron , icosahedron , and dodecahedron
Platonic love
love of the Idea of beauty , seen as terminating an evolution from the desire for an individual and the love of physical beauty to the love and contemplation of spiritual or ideal beauty
Platonic year
→ great year
Platonic solid
any of the five possible regular polyhedra : cube , tetrahedron , octahedron , icosahedron , and dodecahedron
Neo-Platonism
a philosophical system which was first developed in the 3rd century ad as a synthesis of Platonic , Pythagorean , and Aristotelian elements, and which, although originally opposed to Christianity , later incorporated it. It dominated European thought until the 13th century and re-emerged during the Renaissance