Definition of literature noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
literature
noun
ˈlɪtrətʃə(r) ˈlɪtrətʃər ˈlɪtrətʃʊr
[uncountable]
1pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, especially novels, plays and poems (in contrast to technical books and newspapers, magazines, etc.)French literaturegreat works of literature2literature (on something)pieces of writing or printed information on a particular subjectI've read all the available literature on keeping rabbits.sales literature
Usage note: LiteratureBeing a writerwrite/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiographybecome a writer/novelist/playwrightfind/have a publisher/an agenthave a new book outedit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscriptdedicate a book/poem to…Plot, character and atmosphereconstruct/create/weave/weave something into a complex narrativeadvance/drive the plotintroduce/present the protagonist/a characterdescribe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(somebody as) a hero/villaincreate an exciting/a tense atmospherebuild/heighten the suspense/tensionevoke/capture the pathos of the situationconvey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…engage the readerseize/capture/grip the (reader's) imaginationarouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythmLanguage, style and imageryuse/employ language/imagery/humour/(especially US) humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a deviceuse/adopt/develop a style/techniquebe rich in/be full of symbolismevoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…create/achieve an effectmaintain/lighten the toneintroduce/develop an idea/a themeinspire a novel/a poet/somebody's work/somebody's imaginationReading and criticismread an author/somebody's work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passagereview a book/a novel/somebody's workgive something/get/have/receive a good/bad reviewbe hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiecequote a phrase/line/stanza/passage/authorprovoke/spark discussion/criticismstudy/interpret/understand a text/passagetranslate somebody's work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem
ˈlɪtrətʃə(r) 
ˈlɪtrətʃər 
1 pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, especially novels, plays and poems (in contrast to technical books and newspapers, magazines, etc.)French literaturegreat works of literature2 literature (on something) pieces of writing or printed information on a particular subjectI've read all the available literature on keeping rabbits.sales literature
Usage note: LiteratureBeing a writerwrite/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiographybecome a writer/novelist/playwrightfind/have a publisher/an agenthave a new book outedit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscriptdedicate a book/poem to…Plot, character and atmosphereconstruct/create/weave/weave something into a complex narrativeadvance/drive the plotintroduce/present the protagonist/a characterdescribe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(somebody as) a hero/villaincreate an exciting/a tense atmospherebuild/heighten the suspense/tensionevoke/capture the pathos of the situationconvey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…engage the readerseize/capture/grip the (reader's) imaginationarouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythmLanguage, style and imageryuse/employ language/imagery/humour/(especially US) humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a deviceuse/adopt/develop a style/techniquebe rich in/be full of symbolismevoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…create/achieve an effectmaintain/lighten the toneintroduce/develop an idea/a themeinspire a novel/a poet/somebody's work/somebody's imaginationReading and criticismread an author/somebody's work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passagereview a book/a novel/somebody's workgive something/get/have/receive a good/bad reviewbe hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiecequote a phrase/line/stanza/passage/authorprovoke/spark discussion/criticismstudy/interpret/understand a text/passagetranslate somebody's work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem