DictionaryAI

song

noun
SAWNG/sɔŋ/UKSONG/sɒŋ/

Pluralsongs

6 meanings of song

Practice

  1. 1
    music with wordsnouncountable
    A short piece of music, usually with words for singing, but sometimes without words.

    Like a poem you can sing along to a tune.

    She sang her favorite song at the party.

    We learned a new song in class today.

    UsageSay listen to a song, and a song on the radio.

    Similartune, number, track

    Note
  2. 2
    animal soundnouncountable or uncountable
    The musical sounds a bird or other animal makes, often to attract a mate or warn others away.

    Like music, but made by an animal instead of a person.

    The whale's song echoed deep beneath the waves.

    Every morning a blackbird's song wakes me before dawn.

    UsageOften used with of or a possessive, like the song of a bird or a whale's song.

  3. 3
    vocal musicnoununcountable
    The act of making music with your voice.

    Like making music, but using only your voice.

    The whole crowd broke into song after the goal.

    The children burst into song as the bus rolled away.

    UsageSay someone burst into song.

    Similarsinging

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    low pricenounusually singular
    A very low price, far less than something is really worth.

    Like paying almost nothing for something that should cost a lot.

    They bought the old house for a song.

    He got the car for a song at the auction.

    UsageSay you got something for a song.

    Similarpittance, trifle

    Oppositefortune

    Note
  2. 5
    poetrynouncountable
    A poem, or written poetry of any kind.
    This subject for heroic song.
    1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost
    The bard that first adorned our native tongue / Tuned to his British lyre this ancient song.
    1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”

    Similarpoetry, verse, poem

    Oppositeprose

    Note
  3. 6
    nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
    A person or thing that everyone laughs at.
    And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
    1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, song means a person everyone laughs at.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Old English "sang," going back to old Germanic and Indo-European words meaning "to sing."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts