DictionaryAI

music

SayMYOO-zik/ˈmjuzɪk//ˈmjuːzɪk/

8 meanings of music

Practice

  1. 1
    art formnoununcountable
    Sounds arranged in a pleasing or expressive way through melody, harmony and rhythm, made with instruments or voices; also the art of making them.

    He devoted his life to music, composing for orchestras and choirs alike.

    Many universities offer degrees in music alongside the other fine arts.

    UsageListen to music (not incorrect: listen music). For one item say a piece of music or a song.

  2. 2
    pleasing soundnounfigurativelyuncountable
    Any sounds that strike the listener as pleasing or interesting.

    Her baby's laughter was music to every grandparent in the room.

    From the porch they could hear the soft music of the creek running over the stones.

    UsageUse music to someone's ears for something they are pleased to hear: Your news is music to my ears.

    Note

    Here the word stretches to cover any sound worth hearing. John Esten Cooke's The Virginia Comedians (1854) says tenderness made a voice "pure music". Kevin Warren, writing in 1978, describes witty dialogue that becomes "a kind of conversational music."

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

    • John Esten Cooke wrote The Virginia Comedians, first published in 1854. openlibrary.org
    • The novel's narrator describes simplicity and tenderness making a woman's voice 'pure music'. en.wiktionary.org
    • Kevin Warren used 'a kind of conversational music' about witty dialogue in 1978. en.wiktionary.org
    • Warren's quoted wording describes rapid, witty dialogue becoming conversational music. en.wiktionary.org
  3. 3
    printed notesnoununcountable
    Written or printed notation showing how to play or sing a particular tune; sheet music.

    The violinist turned the pages of her music between the movements.

    Stacks of yellowing music filled the bench beneath the old piano.

    UsageOften in read music (understand musical notation) and play from music.

    Similarscore, notation

Practice

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Origin

It came into Middle English from Anglo-Norman and Old French musique, and ultimately from Latin mūsica, which came from Ancient Greek mousikḗ. This in turn came from Moûsa (Muse), an Ancient Greek deity of the arts. It is essentially muse plus the suffix -ic ("pertaining to"), and it displaced the native Old English word drēam ("music"), which survives as Modern English dream.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 7 facts