MUSIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does music mean? 

• MUSIC (noun)
  The noun MUSIC has 5 senses:

1. an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

2. any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds

3. musical activity (singing or whistling etc.)

4. (music) the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments (or reproductions of such sounds)

5. punishment for one's actions

  Familiarity information: MUSIC used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MUSIC (noun)

Sense 1

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:

transposition ((music) playing in a different key from the key intended; moving the pitch of a piece of music upwards or downwards)

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.))

recapitulation ((music) the repetition of themes introduced earlier (especially when one is 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))

barrel organ; grind organ; hand organ (a musical instrument that makes music by rotation of a cylinder studded with pegs)

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)

decrescendo; diminuendo ((music) a gradual decrease in loudness)

pianissimo; piano ((music) low loudness)

fermata ((music) a prolongation of unspecified length on a note or chord or rest)

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)

pyrotechnics ((music) brilliance of display (as in the performance of music))

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 ((music) 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))

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)

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)

rhapsody ((music) a free instrumental composition in one extended movement; typically emotional or exuberant in character)

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))

syncopation (music (especially dance music) that has a syncopated rhythm)

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)

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))

sound off; strike up (start playing)

compose; write (write music)

counterpoint (write in counterpoint)

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 stringed instrument))

solmizate (sing by the syllables of solmization)

prepare (lead up to and soften by sounding the dissonant note in it as a consonant note in the preceding chord)

chromatic (based on a scale consisting of 12 semitones)

diatonic (based on the standard major or minor scales consisting of 5 tones and 2 semitones without modulation by accidentals)

classical (of or relating to music in the European tradition, such as symphonies and operas)

pop; popular ((of music or art) new and of general appeal (especially among young people))

conjunct (progressing melodically by intervals of a second)

disjunct (progressing melodically by intervals larger than a major second)

diminished ((of musical intervals) reduction by a semitone of any perfect or minor musical interval)

bowed (of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow)

plucked (of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum)

fast (at a rapid tempo)

slow (at a slow tempo)

first (highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections)

second (a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first)

copyrighted ((of literary or musical or dramatic or artistic work) protected by copyright)

dissonant; unresolved (characterized by musical dissonance; harmonically unresolved)

alto ((of a musical instrument) second highest member of a group)

tenor ((of a musical instrument) intermediate between alto and baritone or bass)

lyric (used of a singer or singing voice that is light in volume and modest in range)

dramatic (used of a singer or singing voice that is marked by power and expressiveness and a histrionic or theatrical style)

major ((of a scale or mode) having half steps between the third and fourth degrees and the seventh and eighth degrees)

minor ((of a scale or mode) having half steps between the second and third degrees, and (usually) the fifth and sixth degrees, and the seventh and eighth degrees)

cantabile; singing (smooth and flowing)

monophonic (consisting of a single melodic line)

contrapuntal; polyphonic (having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together)

natural ((of a musical note) being neither raised nor lowered by one chromatic semitone)

sharp ((of a musical note) raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone)

flat ((of a musical note) lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone)

solo (composed or performed by a single voice or instrument)

con brio (with vigor)

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)

increasing ((music) increasing in tempo and/or volume)

accelerando ((music) gradually increasing in tempo)

crescendo ((music) gradually increasing in volume)

decreasing ((music) decreasing in tempo and/or volume)

allargando ((music) gradually decreasing in tempo and broadening in manner)

calando ((music) gradually decreasing in tempo and volume)

decrescendo; diminuendo ((music) gradually decreasing in volume)

rallentando; rit.; ritardando; ritenuto ((music) gradually decreasing in tempo)

atonalistic (of or relating to atonalism)

fretted (having frets)

unfretted (without frets)

serial (pertaining to or composed in serial technique)

polyphonic; polyphonous (of or relating to or characterized by polyphony)

lyric (relating to or being musical drama)

measured; mensurable; mensural (having notes of fixed rhythmic value)

con brio ((music) with vigor)

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 tempo)

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)

dolce (gently and sweetly)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "music"):

dance music (music to dance to)

vocal; vocal music (music intended to be performed by one or more singers, usually with instrumental accompaniment)

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))

air; line; melodic line; melodic phrase; melody; strain; tune (a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence)

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)

rhapsody ((music) a free instrumental composition in one extended movement; typically emotional or exuberant in character)

harmony; musical harmony (the structure of music with respect to the composition and progression of chords)

ballet (music written for a ballet)

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)

chorus; refrain (the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers)

Derivation:

musician (artist who composes or conducts music as a profession)

musician (someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession))

Sense 2

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:

reharmonise; reharmonize (provide with a different harmony)

harmonise; harmonize (write a harmony for)

orchestrate (write an orchestra score for)

instrument; instrumentate (write an instrumental score for)

transcribe (rewrite or arrange a piece of music for an instrument or medium other than that originally intended)

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)

Derivation:

musical (containing or constituting or characterized by pleasing melody)

Sense 3

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:

sound off; strike up (start playing)

harmonise; harmonize (sing or play in harmony)

interlude (perform an interlude)

scamp (perform hastily and carelessly)

churn out (perform in a mechanical way)

sight-read; sightread (perform music from a score without having seen the score before)

rap (perform rap music)

concertise; concertize (give concerts; perform in concerts)

prelude (play as a prelude)

jazz (play something in the style of jazz)

rag (play in ragtime)

bugle (play on a bugle)

play (perform music on (a musical instrument))

register (manipulate the registers of an organ)

skirl (play the bagpipes)

symphonise; symphonize (play or sound together, in harmony)

tweedle (play negligently on a musical instrument)

recapitulate; repeat; reprise; reprize (repeat an earlier theme of a composition)

pipe (play on a pipe)

slur (play smoothly or legato)

pedal (operate the pedals on a keyboard instrument)

bang out (play loudly)

accompany; follow; play along (perform an accompaniment to)

modulate (change the key of, in music)

bow (play on a stringed instrument with a bow)

sing (produce tones with the voice)

psalm (sing or celebrate in psalms)

minstrel (celebrate by singing, in the style of minstrels)

solmizate (sing using syllables like 'do', 're' and 'mi' to represent the tones of the scale)

chirp; tweedle (sing in modulation)

choir; chorus (sing in a choir)

sing (deliver by singing)

troll (sing the parts of (a round) in succession)

hymn (sing a hymn)

carol (sing carols)

madrigal (sing madrigals)

drum (play a percussion instrument)

harp (play the harp)

conduct; direct; lead (lead, as in the performance of a composition)

conduct (lead musicians in the performance of)

fiddle (play the violin or fiddle)

trumpet (play or blow on the trumpet)

clarion (blow the clarion)

double tongue; triple-tongue (play fast notes on a wind instrument)

tongue (articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "music"):

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)

bell ringing; carillon; carillon playing (playing a set of bells that are (usually) hung in a tower)

Derivation:

musical (talented in or devoted to music)

musician (artist who composes or conducts music as a profession)

musician (someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession))

Sense 4

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:

syncopate (modify the rhythm by stressing or accenting a weak beat)

chord; harmonise; harmonize (bring into consonance, harmony, or accord while making music or singing)

key (regulate the musical pitch of)

sound off; strike up (start playing)

harmonise; harmonize (sing or play in harmony)

clarion (blow the clarion)

double tongue; triple-tongue (play fast notes on a wind instrument)

tongue (articulate by tonguing, as when playing wind instruments)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "music"):

piano music (the sound of music produced by a piano)

Derivation:

musical (characteristic of or resembling or accompanied by music)

musician (artist who composes or conducts music as a profession)

musician (someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Punishment for one's actions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

medicine; music

Context example:

take your medicine

Hypernyms ("music" is a kind of...):

penalisation; penalization; penalty; punishment (the act of punishing)

 Context examples 

How could I put into speech a something felt, a something like the strains of music heard in sleep, a something that convinced yet transcended utterance?

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A brave man's hand can speak for itself; it does not even need a woman's love to hear its music.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“I must be a prisoner for a little while,” said Agnes, “but here are the old books, Trotwood, and the old music.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Of course, it is obvious that it is music.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And such a voice!—delicate and sweet, like a strain of music heard far off and faint, or, better, like a bell of silver, a perfect tone, crystal-pure.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I am no judge of music, but Mr. Rochester is; and I heard him say her execution was remarkably good.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"The little Durands were there, I conclude," said she, "with their mouths open to catch the music, like unfledged sparrows ready to be fed. They never miss a concert."

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Miss Crawford was too much vexed by what had passed to be in a humour for anything but music.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Laurie comes naturally by his love of music, for he is like his mother, and I dare say his grandfather fears that he may want to be a musician.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Among the effects reported to have been brought about by music are a reduction in the heart rate and in the blood pressure.

(Music believed to boost hypertension treatment, Agência Brasil/EBC)