classic

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
classic/ˈklasɪk/

▶adjective

• 1 judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality.

  ■ (of a garment) of a simple, elegant style not greatly subject to changes in fashion.

• 2 remarkably typical: the classic symptoms of flu.

▶noun

• 1 a work of art of recognized and established value.

  ■ a very good example of its kind: tomorrow's game should be a classic.

• 2 (Classics) the study of ancient Greek and Latin literature, philosophy, and history.

  ■ (the classics) the works of ancient Greek and Latin writers and philosophers.

• 3 (Classic) a major sports tournament or competition, especially in golf or tennis.

– origin C17: from Fr. classique or L. classicus ‘belonging to a class or division’, later ‘of the highest class’.