melody
MEHL-uh-dee
Melody (noun) means a sequence of musical notes that forms a recognisable tune. Example: “She hummed the melody without remembering the words.”
noun
1
A sequence of musical notes that forms a recognisable tune.
"There is a melody upon the Earth as though ten thousand streams all sang together for their homes that they had forsaken in the hills."
— Lord Dunsany i.e, The Sayings of Slid (whose Soul is by the Sea) (1905)
"She hummed the melody without remembering the words."
"The song has a simple but memorable melody."
"Alyssa likes to sing melodies while playing the drums."
"The violin played a slow, sad melody while the audience sat in silence."
How to use melody
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe tune of a piece of music — the part you could hum or whistle.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a catchy melody
hum a melody
melody and harmony
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Word forms
- Plural
- melodies
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She hummed the _____ without remembering the words.
Etymology
From Old French melodie, from Latin melodia, from Greek melōidia ("singing"), built from melos ("tune") and aoide ("song").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for melody
See all rhymes for melody →Frequently asked questions
What does “melody” mean?
The word “melody” means a sequence of musical notes that forms a recognisable tune. In plain terms, the tune of a piece of music — the part you could hum or whistle.
How do you pronounce “melody”?
“Melody” is pronounced MEHL-uh-dee (/ˈmɛl.ə.di/ in IPA).
How do you use “melody” in a sentence?
Here is “melody” used in a sentence: “She hummed the melody without remembering the words.”
What part of speech is “melody”?
“Melody” is a noun.
Where does the word “melody” come from?
The word “melody” comes from Latin. From Old French melodie, from Latin melodia, from Greek melōidia ("singing"), built from melos ("tune") and aoide ("song").
Is “melody” a common word?
“Melody” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between melody and harmony?
A melody is the single sequence of musical notes that forms the recognisable tune, sung or played as the main line. Harmony refers to the combination of different notes played together to support that tune, so melody is horizontal (one note after another) while harmony is vertical (notes stacked together).
What is the difference between a melody and a rhythm?
Melody is about which notes are played and in what order, creating the tune you hum. Rhythm is about timing — the pattern of long and short beats — and can exist even without a melody, such as in a drum part.
Can the word melody be used outside of music?
Yes, melody is sometimes used figuratively to describe something pleasing and flowing, such as "the melody of her voice," though its core meaning remains tied to a sequence of musical notes forming a tune.
