n. A specialist of a given field whose opinion is valued; especially in one of the fine arts, or in a matter of taste
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. One well versed in any subject; a skillful or knowing person; a critical judge of any art, particulary of one of the fine arts.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. A critical judge of any art, particularly of painting, sculpture, or music; one competent to pass a critical judgment: as, a connoisseur of carvings; a connoisseur of lace.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. an expert able to appreciate a field; especially in the fine arts
Word Usage
"He is a writer whose colloquial approach masks both a rather uncolloquial feeling for the tautest way of getting his point across and a word connoisseur's desire to show off his collection."