Dictionary entry details
• MUSIC (noun)
Meaning:
An artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("music" is a kind of...):
auditory communication (communication that relies on hearing)
Domain member category:
plucked (of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum)
bowed (of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow)
diminished ((of musical intervals) reduction by a semitone of any perfect or minor musical interval)
disjunct (progressing melodically by intervals larger than a major second)
conjunct (progressing melodically by intervals of a second)
pop; popular ((of music or art) new and of general appeal (especially among young people))
diatonic (based on the standard major or minor scales consisting of 5 tones and 2 semitones without modulation by accidentals)
fast (at a rapid tempo)
slow (at a slow tempo)
dramatic (used of a singer or singing voice that is marked by power and expressiveness and a histrionic or theatrical style)
lyric (used of a singer or singing voice that is light in volume and modest in range)
tenor ((of a musical instrument) intermediate between alto and baritone or bass)
alto ((of a musical instrument) second highest member of a group)
dissonant; unresolved (characterized by musical dissonance; harmonically unresolved)
copyrighted ((of literary or musical or dramatic or artistic work) protected by copyright)
second (a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first)
first (highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections)
chromatic (based on a scale consisting of 12 semitones)
attuned; tuned (brought to correct pitch)
prepare (lead up to and soften by sounding the dissonant note in it as a consonant note in the preceding chord)
set to music (write (music) for (a text))
arrange; set (adapt for performance in a different way)
put (adapt)
score (write a musical score for)
transpose (put (a piece of music) into another key)
melodise; melodize (supply a melody for)
harmonise; harmonize (sing or play in harmony)
realise; realize (expand or complete (a part in a piece of baroque music) by supplying the harmonies indicated in the figured bass)
fiddle (play on a violin)
play (play on an instrument)
swing (play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm)
rag (play in ragtime)
play (perform music on (a musical instrument))
beat (produce a rhythm by striking repeatedly)
chord (play chords on (a string instrument))
solmizate (sing by the syllables of solmization)
counterpoint (write in counterpoint)
major; minor (of a scale or mode)
polyphonic; polyphonous (of or relating to or characterized by polyphony)
lyric (relating to or being musical drama)
mensural (having notes of fixed rhythmic value)
con brio (with liveliness or spirit)
fugally (in a fugal style)
presto (at a very fast tempo (faster than allegro))
largo (slowly and broadly)
accelerando (with increasing speed)
adagio (slowly)
andante (at a moderately slow temp)
allegretto (in a moderately quick tempo)
allegro (in a quick and lively tempo)
glissando ((musical direction) in the manner of a glissando (with a rapidly executed series of notes))
molto (much)
pizzicato (with a light plucking staccato sound)
prestissimo (extremely fast; as fast as possible)
rallentando (slowing down)
serial (pertaining to or composed in serial technique)
unfretted (without frets)
cantabile; singing (smooth and flowing)
tuned (tuned in equal temperament; or so tuned as to allow modulation into other keys)
monophonic (consisting of a single melodic line)
contrapuntal; polyphonic (having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together)
natural ((of a key) containing no sharps or flats; (of a note) being neither raised nor lowered by one chromatic semitone)
sharp (raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone)
flat (lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone)
solo (composed or performed by a single voice or instrument)
con brio (with liveliness or spirit)
disconnected; staccato ((music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply)
legato; smooth ((music) without breaks between notes; smooth and connected)
masculine ((music or poetry) ending on an accented beat or syllable)
feminine ((music or poetry) ending on an unaccented beat or syllable)
tonal (having tonality; i.e. tones and chords organized in relation to one tone such as a keynote or tonic)
atonal; unkeyed (characterized by avoidance of traditional Western tonality)
atonalistic (of or relating to atonalism)
fretted (having frets)
dolce (gently and sweetly)
compose; write (write music)
transposition ((music) playing in a different key from the key intended; moving the pitch of a piece of music upwards or downwards)
music ((music) the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments (or reproductions of such sounds))
section; subdivision (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical))
dedication; inscription (a short message (as in a book or musical work or on a photograph) dedicating it to someone or something)
exposition ((music) the section of a movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes first occur)
musical notation (a notation used by musicians)
sheet music (a musical composition in printed or written form)
musical scale; scale ((music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave))
fanfare; flourish; tucket ((music) a short lively tune played on brass instruments)
slide; swoop ((music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale)
gamut (the entire scale of musical notes)
roulade ((music) an elaborate run of several notes sung to one syllable)
keynote; tonic ((music) the first note of a diatonic scale)
supertonic ((music) the second note of a diatonic scale)
mediant ((music) the third note of a diatonic scale; midway between the tonic and the dominant)
subdominant ((music) the fourth note of the diatonic scale)
dominant ((music) the fifth note of the diatonic scale)
submediant ((music) the sixth note of a major or minor scale (or the third below the tonic))
pyrotechnics ((music) brilliance of display (as in the performance of music))
register ((music) the timbre that is characteristic of a certain range and manner of production of the human voice or of different pipe organ stops or of different musical instruments)
release; tone ending ((music) the act or manner of terminating a musical phrase or tone)
entr'acte; interlude; intermezzo (a brief show (music or dance etc) inserted between the sections of a longer performance)
music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))
recapitualtion ((music) the repetition of themes introduced earlier (especially when you are composing the final part of a movement))
tuning ((music) calibrating something (an instrument or electronic circuit) to a standard frequency)
audio CD; audio compact disc (compact discs used to reproduce sound (voice and music))
electric organ; electronic organ; Hammond organ; organ ((music) an electronic simulation of a pipe organ)
soundboard; sounding board ((music) resonator consisting of a thin board whose vibrations reinforce the sound of the instrument)
stop ((music) a knob on an organ that is pulled to change the sound quality from the organ pipes)
synthesiser; synthesizer ((music) an electronic instrument (usually played with a keyboard) that generates and modifies sounds electronically and can imitate a variety of other musical instruments)
unison ((music) two or more sounds or tones at the same pitch or in octaves)
registration ((music) the sound property resulting from a combination of organ stops used to perform a particular piece of music; the technique of selecting and adjusting organ stops)
quality; timber; timbre; tone ((music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound))
crescendo ((music) a gradual increase in loudness)
forte; fortissimo ((music) with great loudness)
decrescendo; diminuendo ((music) a gradual decrease in loudness)
pianissimo; piano ((music) low loudness)
leading tone; subtonic ((music) the seventh note of the diatonic scale)
staff; stave ((music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written)
development ((music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated)
arioso ((music) a short recitative that is melodic but is not an aria)
vibrato ((music) a pulsating effect in an instrumental or vocal tone produced by slight and rapid variations in pitch)
brass family ((music) the family of brass instruments)
violin family ((music) the family of bowed stringed instruments)
woodwind family ((music) the family of woodwind instruments)
executant (a performer (usually of musical works))
musician (artist who composes or conducts music as a profession)
sightreader (a performer who reads without preparation or prior acquaintance (as in music))
tremolo ((music) a tremulous effect produced by rapid repetition of a single tone or rapid alternation of two tones)
musical time ((music) the beat of musical rhythm)
note value; time value; value ((music) the relative duration of a musical note)
pacing; tempo ((music) the speed at which a composition is to be played)
beats per minute; bpm; M.M.; metronome marking (the pace of music measured by the number of beats occurring in 60 seconds)
invert (make an inversion (in a musical composition))
sharpen (raise the pitch of (musical notes))
drop; flatten (lower the pitch of (musical notes))
expressive style; style (a way of expressing something (in language or art or music etc.) that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period)
syncopation (music (especially dance music) that has a syncopated rhythm)
slur ((music) a curved line spanning notes that are to be played legato)
tie ((music) a slur over two notes of the same pitch; indicates that the note is to be sustained for their combined time value)
C ((music) the keynote of the scale of C major)
C major; C major scale; scale of C major ((music) the major scale having no sharps or flats)
segno ((music) a notation written at the beginning or end of a passage that is to be repeated)
sforzando ((music) a notation written above a note and indicating that it is to be played with a strong initial attack)
world premiere ((music) the first public performance (as of a dramatic or musical work) anywhere in the world)
preparation ((music) a note that produces a dissonant chord is first heard in a consonant chord)
resolution ((music) a dissonant chord is followed by a consonant chord)
idea; melodic theme; musical theme; theme ((music) melodic subject of a musical composition)
statement ((music) the presentation of a musical theme)
recapitulation ((music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) in which musical themes that were introduced earlier are repeated)
ligature ((music) a group of notes connected by a slur)
largo ((music) a composition or passage that is to be performed in a slow and dignified manner)
larghetto ((music) a composition or passage played in a slow tempo slightly faster than largo but slower than adagio)
suite (a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected)
adagio ((music) a composition played in adagio tempo (slowly and gracefully))
sound off; strike up (start playing)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "music"):
serial music; serialism (20th century music that uses a definite order of notes as a thematic basis for a musical composition)
syncopation (music (especially dance music) that has a syncopated rhythm)
genre; music genre; musical genre; musical style (an expressive style of music)
Bach (the music of Bach)
Beethoven (the music of Beethoven)
Brahms (the music of Brahms)
Chopin (the music of Chopin)
Gilbert and Sullivan (the music of Gilbert and Sullivan)
Handel (the music of Handel)
Haydn (the music of Haydn)
Mozart (the music of Mozart)
Stravinsky (the music of Stravinsky)
Wagner (the music of Wagner)
Ta'ziyeh ((Islam) a form of Iranian musical pageant that is the theatrical expression of religious passion; based on the Battle of Kerbala and performed annually (in Farsi))
ballet (music written for a ballet)
chorus; refrain (the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers)
section; subdivision (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical))
pizzicato (a note or passage that is played pizzicato)
monody; monophonic music; monophony (music consisting of a single vocal part (usually with accompaniment))
concerted music; polyphonic music; polyphony (music arranged in parts for several voices or instruments)
polytonalism; polytonality (music that uses two or more different keys at the same time)
popularism (music adapted to the understanding and taste of the majority)
harmony; musical harmony (the structure of music with respect to the composition and progression of chords)
air; line; melodic line; melodic phrase; melody; strain; tune (a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence)
part music (vocal music for several voices in independent parts (usually performed without accompaniment))
composition; musical composition; opus; piece; piece of music (a musical work that has been created)
instrumental music (music intended to be performed by a musical instrument or group of instruments)
prelude (music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera)
overture (orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio)
antiphony (alternate (responsive) singing by a choir in two parts)
vocal; vocal music (music intended to be performed by one or more singers, usually with instrumental accompaniment)
Meaning:
Any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
euphony; music
Context example:
he fell asleep to the music of the wind chimes
Hypernyms ("music" is a kind of...):
auditory sensation; sound (the subjective sensation of hearing something)
Domain member category:
transcribe (rewrite or arrange a piece of music for an instrument or medium other than that originally intended)
instrument; instrumentate (write an instrumental score for)
orchestrate (write an orchestra score for)
harmonise; harmonize (write a harmony for)
reharmonise; reharmonize (provide with a different harmony)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "music"):
music of the spheres (an inaudible music that Pythagoras thought was produced by the celestial)
Meaning:
Musical activity (singing or whistling etc.)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Context example:
his music was his central interest
Hypernyms ("music" is a kind of...):
activity (any specific behavior)
Meronyms (parts of "music"):
beats per minute; bpm; M.M.; metronome marking (the pace of music measured by the number of beats occurring in 60 seconds)
Domain category:
singing; vocalizing (the act of singing vocal music)
music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)
Domain member category:
troll (sing the parts of (a round) in succession)
sing (deliver by singing)
choir; chorus (sing in a choir)
chirp; tweedle (sing in modulation)
solmizate (sing using syllables like 'do', 're' and 'mi' to represent the tones of the scale)
minstrel (celebrate by singing, in the style of minstrels)
psalm (sing or celebrate in psalms)
sing (produce tones with the voice)
bow (play on a string instrument)
hymn (sing a hymn)
carol (sing carols)
madrigal (sing madrigals)
tongue (articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments)
double tongue; triple-tongue (play fast notes on a wind instrument)
clarion (blow the clarion)
trumpet (play or blow on the trumpet)
fiddle (play the violin or fiddle)
conduct (lead musicians in the performance of)
conduct; direct; lead (lead, as in the performance of a composition)
harp (play the harp)
drum (play a percussion instrument)
modulate (change the key of, in music)
accompany; follow; play along (perform an accompaniment to)
bang out (play loudly)
prelude (play as a prelude)
concertise; concertize (give concerts; perform in concerts)
rap (perform rap music)
sight-read; sightread (perform music from a score without having seen the score before)
churn out (perform in a mechanical way)
scamp (perform hastily and carelessly)
interlude (perform an interlude)
harmonise; harmonize (sing or play in harmony)
sound off; strike up (start playing)
jazz (play something in the style of jazz)
rag (play in ragtime)
bugle (play on a bugle)
pedal (operate the pedals on a keyboard instrument)
slur (play smoothly or legato)
pipe (play on a pipe)
recapitulate; repeat; reprise; reprize (repeat an earlier theme of a composition)
tweedle (play negligently on a musical instrument)
symphonise; symphonize (play or sound together, in harmony)
skirl (play the bagpipes)
register (manipulate the registers of an organ)
play (perform music on (a musical instrument))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "music"):
bell ringing; carillon; carillon playing (playing a set of bells that are (usually) hung in a tower)
instrumental music (music produced by playing a musical instrument)
intonation (the production of musical tones (by voice or instrument); especially the exactitude of the pitch relations)
percussion (the act of playing a percussion instrument)
vocal music (music that is vocalized (as contrasted with instrumental music))
whistling (the act of whistling a tune)
Meaning:
(music) the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments (or reproductions of such sounds)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("music" is a kind of...):
auditory sensation; sound (the subjective sensation of hearing something)
Domain category:
music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)
Domain member category:
tongue (articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments)
double tongue; triple-tongue (play fast notes on a wind instrument)
clarion (blow the clarion)
harmonise; harmonize (sing or play in harmony)
sound off; strike up (start playing)
key (regulate the musical pitch of)
chord; harmonise; harmonize (bring into consonance, harmony, or accord while making music or singing)
syncopate (modify the rhythm by stressing or accenting a weak beat)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "music"):
piano music (the sound of music produced by a piano)
Meaning:
Punishment for one's actions
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
medicine; music
Context examples:
you have to face the music / take your medicine
Hypernyms ("music" is a kind of...):
penalisation; penalization; penalty; punishment (the act of punishing)
