music

English

Wikiquote

Alternative forms

• musick, musicke, musique, musike (obsolete)

Etymology

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. Surface analysis muse +‎ -ic (“pertaining to”). In this sense, displaced native Old English drēam (“music”), whence Modern English dream.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: myo͞oʹzĭk IPA^(key): /ˈmjuːzɪk/

• Audio (RP)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmjuzɪk/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: mus‧ic
• Rhymes: -uːzɪk

Noun

music (usually uncountable, plural musics)

1. A series of sounds organized in time, usually employing some combination of harmony, melody, rhythm, tempo, etc., to convey a mood.

   I keep listening to this music because it’s a masterpiece.

   • 1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 1:

     Muſick has Charms to ſooth a ſavage Breaſt, / To ſoften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.

   • 2013 November 22, Ian Sample, “Music lessons in early childhood may improve brain's performance”, in The Guardian Weekly‎^[1], volume 189, number 24, page 32:

     Music lessons in early childhood lead to changes in the brain that could improve its performance far into adulthood, researchers say.

   • Series definition

     A number of things that follow on one after the other or are connected one after the other. (1 of 9 series definitions)

   • Sound definition

     Healthy. (1 of 7 sound definitions)

   • Organize definition

     To arrange in working order. (1 of 5 organize definitions)

   • Time definition

     The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events. (1 of 27 time definitions)

   • Employ definition

     To retain (someone) as an employee. (1 of 4 employ definitions)

   • Combination definition

     The act of combining, the state of being combined or the result of combining. (1 of 8 combination definitions)

   • Harmony definition

     Agreement or accord. (1 of 6 harmony definitions)

   • Melody definition

     A sequence of notes that makes up a musical phrase

   • Rhythm definition

     The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter. (1 of 8 rhythm definitions)

   • Tempo definition

     A frequency or rate. (1 of 9 tempo definitions)

   • Convey definition

     To move (something) from one place to another. (1 of 6 convey definitions)

   • Mood definition

     A mental or emotional state, composure. (1 of 7 mood definitions)
2. (figuratively) Any interesting or pleasing sounds.
   • 1856, John Esten Cooke, The Virginia Comedians‎^[2], page 247:

     “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.”

   • Interesting definition

     Of concern; affecting, important. (1 of 3 interesting definitions)

   • Pleasing definition

     Agreeable; giving pleasure, cheer, enjoyment or gratification.
3. An art form, created by organizing pitch, rhythm, and sounds made using musical instruments and sometimes singing.

   • Art Form definition

     Any activity or piece of work that has artistic merit.

   • Create definition

     To bring into existence; (1 of 8 create definitions)

   • Pitch definition

     A sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees; sap. (1 of 3 pitch definitions)

   • Make definition

     To create.

     1. To build, construct, produce, or originate. (1 of 41 make definitions)

   • Use definition

     The act of using. (1 of 10 use definitions)

   • Musical Instrument definition

     A device, object, contrivance or machine used to produce musical notes or sounds.

   • Singing definition

     The act of using the voice to produce musical sounds; vocalizing. (1 of 3 singing definitions)
4. A guide to playing or singing a particular tune; sheet music.

   • Guide definition

     Someone who guides, especially someone hired to show people around a place or an institution and offer information and explanation, or to lead them through dangerous terrain. (1 of 12 guide definitions)

   • Play definition

     To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment. (1 of 26 play definitions)

   • Sing definition

     To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice. (1 of 13 sing definitions)

   • Tune definition

     A melody. (1 of 7 tune definitions)

   • Sheet Music definition

     Handwritten or printed form of musical notation.
5. (military, slang) Electronic signal jamming.

   • Military definition

     Characteristic of members of the armed forces. (1 of 4 military definitions)

   • Electronic definition

     Of or pertaining to an electron or electrons. (1 of 4 electronic definitions)

   • Signal definition

     A sequence of states representing an encoded message in a communication channel. (1 of 10 signal definitions)

   • Jamming definition

     present participle and gerund of jam
6. (US, slang, dated) Heated argument.

   • Heated definition

     simple past and past participle of heat

   • Argument definition

     A fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason. (1 of 19 argument definitions)
7. (US, slang, dated) Fun; amusement.

   • Fun definition

     Amusement, enjoyment or pleasure. (1 of 2 fun definitions)

   • Amusement definition

     Entertainment. (1 of 2 amusement definitions)

Synonyms

• melody
• vibe

Derived terms

Descendants

• Jamaican Creole: myuuzik
• Pitcairn-Norfolk: myuusik
• Tok Pisin: musik
• → Dhivehi: މިއުޒިކް‎ (miuzik̊)
• → Japanese: ミュージック (myūjikku)
• → Malay: muzik
• → Swahili: muziki
• → Welsh: miwsig

Translations

Verb

music (third-person singular simple present musics, present participle musicking, simple past and past participle musicked)

1. (transitive) To seduce or entice with music.

   • Seduce definition

     To beguile or lure (someone) away from duty, accepted principles, or proper conduct; to lead astray. (1 of 4 seduce definitions)

   • Entice definition

     To lure; to attract by arousing desire or hope.

See also

• Wikipedia article on the definition of music
• MusicNovatory: the science of music encyclopedia
• Category:Music

References

• “music”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “music”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• MICUs

Interlingua

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈmuzik]

Adjective

music (comparative plus music, superlative le plus music)

1. musical, of, or pertaining to music.

   • Musical definition

     Of, belonging or relating to music, or to its performance or notation. (1 of 4 musical definitions)

Synonyms

• musical

Middle English

Noun

music

1. Alternative form of musike

   • Musike definition

     music (1 of 2 musike definitions)