Music Meaning
/ˈmjuː.zɪk/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA series of sounds organized in time, usually employing some combination of harmony, melody, rhythm, tempo, etc., often to convey a mood.
nounAny interesting or pleasing sounds.
Sentence Examples
"She likes music." "So do I."
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.
I like any kind of pop or dance music.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The orchestra played beautiful ____ that filled the large concert hall with sound.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I always listen to classical ____ while I am studying because it helps me to focus more clearly and relax after a very long and busy day.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English musik, musike, borrowed from Anglo-Norman musik, musike, Old French musique, and their source Latin mūsica, from Ancient Greek μουσική (mousikḗ), from Ancient Greek Μοῦσα (Moûsa, “Muse”), an Ancient Greek deity of the arts. By surface analysis, muse + -ic (“pertaining to”). In this sense, displaced native Old English drēam (“music”), whence Modern English dream. Fully displaced Old English sweġl.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Muſick has Charms to ſooth a ſavage Breaſt, / To ſoften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak."
— 1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 1:
"Music lessons in early childhood lead to changes in the brain that could improve its performance far into adulthood, researchers say."
— 2013 November 22, Ian Sample, “Music lessons in early childhood may improve brain's performance”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 24, page 32:
"“Oh! this was very kind,” she said, with that simplicity and tenderness, which at times made her voice pure music, “I could not have expected you so soon.”"
— 1856, John Esten Cooke, The Virginia Comedians, page 247:
"Wilson's definite genius for rapid, witty dialogue which becomes a kind of conversational music at times."
— 1978 August 19, Kevin Warren, “A Flawless Production”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 5, page 15:
"Again, Moſes was the firſt that brought in ſacred Muſick: thus in like manner Strabo lib. 10. 453. informes us, that the Bacchick Muſick was famous throughout Aſia; and that many muſick Inſtruments had obteined a Barbarick name, as Jambla, Sambuke, Barbitos, Magades, &c. which ſeem all to be of Hebrew origination."
— 1669, T[heophilus] G[ale], The Court of the Gentiles: or A Discourse Touching the Original of Human Literature, Both Philologie and Philosophie, from the Scriptures, and Jewish Church in Order to a Demonstration, […], part I (Of Philologie), Oxon [Oxford]: […] Hen[ry] Hall for Tho[mas] Gilbert, pages 136–137:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The orchestra played beautiful ____ that filled the large concert hall with sound.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I always listen to classical ____ while I am studying because it helps me to focus more clearly and relax after a very long and busy day.