An antique is an old object such as a piece of china or furniture which is valuable because of its beauty or rarity.
...a genuine antique.
...antique silver jewellery.
He finds material at auctions, antique shops and flea markets.
Synonyms: period piece, relic, bygone, heirloom More Synonyms of antique
More Synonyms of antique
antique in British English
(ænˈtiːk)
noun
1.
a.
a decorative object, piece of furniture, or other work of art created in an earlier period, that is collected and valued for its beauty, workmanship, and age
b.
(as modifier)
an antique shop
2.
any object made in an earlier period
3. the antique
adjective
4.
made in or in the style of an earlier period
5.
of or belonging to the distant past, esp of or in the style of ancient Greece or Rome
6. informal
old-fashioned; out-of-date
7. archaic
aged or venerable
8.
(of paper) not calendered or coated; having a rough surface
verb
9. (transitive)
to give an antique appearance to
Word origin
C16: from Latin antīquus ancient, from ante before
antique in American English
(ænˈtik)
adjective
1.
of ancient times; ancient; old
2.
out-of-date; old-fashioned
3.
in the style of classical antiquity
4.
of, or in the style of, a former period
5.
dealing in antiques
noun
6.
anything from ancient times; relic
7.
the ancient style, esp. of Greek or Roman sculpture, architecture, etc.
8.
a piece of furniture, silverware, etc. made in a former period, generally more than 100 years ago
verb transitiveWord forms: anˈtiqued or anˈtiquing
9.
to make look antique, as in the style of a former period
verb intransitive
10.
to look for or shop for antique furniture, articles, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: old
Derived forms
antiquely (anˈtiquely)
adverb
antiqueness (anˈtiqueness)
noun
Word origin
Fr < L antiquus, ancient, old < ante, before
Examples of 'antique' in a sentence
antique
The ten rooms are spacious and furnished with old paintings and antiques.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Luck discovers the true value of some antique china.
The Sun (2016)
He said charity shops should get antiques valued to avoid losing out.
The Sun (2016)
He stops outside an antique shop.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Think vaulted ceilings, antique furniture and lashings of rustic charm.
The Sun (2016)
They have a pleasant mix of antiques, retro furniture and contemporary art.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The town of Petworth is nearby and is stuffed with antique and homeware shops.
The Sun (2016)
Check out the antique shops.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I have walked out of antique shops with stuff worth up to 20,000.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We spent a lot of time going round antiques shops.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Her fiancé is also in the world of art and antiques.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What greener activity is there than buying and selling antiques?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Classic car shows and antiques fairs are also held there.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He pushed an antique clock off its support and sent it crashing to the floor.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You put a pound in an antique object that claimed to be a computer and prayed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The rest came from old buildings or antique shops.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But the donors were giving an antique piece of furniture.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The castle was restored early last century and its chambers contain valuable paintings and antique furniture.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Antique furniture has also been affected by the downturn.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
People are now very happy to buy antiques and then change them after five or ten years.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Three years ago we helped an old lady with a cluttered house that looked like an antiques shop.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The basic purpose of an art or antiques fair is to make money for the exhibitors and organisers.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The pages don't turn but they have beautifully curled up corners and genuine antique dust.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Her pieces from this era are now expensive, collectable antiques.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
These can feature anything from arts and antiques to gardening, music and wine.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Instead, look for evocative local antiques and decorative, highquality crafts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Our take An expert in deliciously textured French rustic antiques.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Mix antique china with sleek mid-century furnishings and fresh, contemporary design.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
antique
British English: antique /ænˈtiːk/ NOUN
An antique is an old object which is valuable because of its beauty or rarity.
...a genuine antique.
American English: antique
Arabic: أَثَر قَدِيـم
Brazilian Portuguese: antiguidade
Chinese: 古董
Croatian: antikvitet
Czech: starožitnost
Danish: antikvitet
Dutch: antiquiteit
European Spanish: antigüedad
Finnish: antiikki
French: antiquité
German: Antiquität
Greek: αντίκα
Italian: antichità
Japanese: 骨董品
Korean: 골동품
Norwegian: antikvitet
Polish: antyk
European Portuguese: antiguidade
Romanian: antichitateobiecte
Russian: старинная вещь
Latin American Spanish: antigüedad
Swedish: antikvitet
Thai: ของเก่า
Turkish: antika
Ukrainian: старовинна річ
Vietnamese: đồ cổ
Chinese translation of 'antique'
antique
(ænˈtiːk)
n(c)
(= valuable old object) 古董 (gǔdǒng) (件, jiàn)
cpd
[furniture, jewellery]古式 (gǔshì)
(noun)
Definition
a decorative object or piece of furniture, of an earlier period, that is valued for its beauty, workmanship, and age
a genuine antique
Synonyms
period piece
relic
bygone
heirloom
collector's item
museum piece
object of virtu
1 (adjective)
Definition
made in an earlier period
antique silver jewellery
Synonyms
vintage
vintage, classic and racing cars
This is vintage comedy at its best.
classic
antiquarian
olden
2 (adjective)
Definition
old-fashioned
Their aim is to break taboos and change antique laws.
Synonyms
old-fashioned
She has some old-fashioned values.
old
How did people manage in the old days before electricity?
aged
She has an aged parent who needs some care.
ancient
ancient rites
remote
elderly
There was an elderly couple on the terrace.
primitive
primitive birds from the dinosaur era
outdated
outdated and inefficient factory equipment
obsolete
The company says the plant is obsolete and does not merit further investment.
archaic
archaic sculpture and porcelain
bygone
primordial
Twenty million years ago this was dense primordial forest.