music
MYOO-zihk
Music (noun) means Sounds arranged in a pleasing or expressive way using melody, rhythm, and harmony. Example: “She turned up the music as soon as the car pulled onto the motorway.”
noun
1
Sounds arranged in a pleasing or expressive way using melody, rhythm, and harmony.
"She turned up the music as soon as the car pulled onto the motorway."
"He's been composing music since he was a teenager."
"The shop played soft music in the background while customers browsed."
2
The written or printed notation showing how a piece should be played or sung.
"The pianist forgot her music and had to play the whole recital from memory."
"He clipped the music to the stand and began to tune his violin."
"Can you read music, or do you play everything by ear?"
How to use music
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOrganised, expressive sound — songs, melodies, and the art of making them.
Common pairings
listen to music
play music
sheet music
music to my ears
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Word forms
- Plural
- musics
- Third person singular
- musics
- Past tense
- musicked
- Comparative
- more music
- Superlative
- most music
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She turned up the _____ as soon as the car pulled onto the motorway.
Etymology
From Old French musique, ultimately from Ancient Greek mousike, meaning "art of the Muses."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “music” mean?
The word “music” means sounds arranged in a pleasing or expressive way using melody, rhythm, and harmony. In plain terms, organised, expressive sound — songs, melodies, and the art of making them.
How do you pronounce “music”?
“Music” is pronounced MYOO-zihk (/ˈmju.zɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “music” in a sentence?
Here is “music” used in a sentence: “She turned up the music as soon as the car pulled onto the motorway.”
What is another word for “music”?
Words with a similar meaning to “music” include melody and vibe.
What part of speech is “music”?
“Music” is a noun.
Where does the word “music” come from?
The word “music” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French musique, ultimately from Ancient Greek mousike, meaning "art of the Muses.".
Is “music” a common word?
“Music” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “music” have?
“Music” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sounds arranged in a pleasing or expressive way using melody, rhythm, and harmony.
What are the elements of music?
The core elements are melody (the tune), rhythm (timing and beat), and harmony (notes sounded together). Most descriptions add timbre (tone colour), dynamics (loud and soft), tempo (speed), texture, and form (structure). Together these give a piece its distinctive character and emotional effect.
What is the difference between music and noise?
Music is sound organised intentionally through melody, rhythm, and harmony to please or express. Noise is unstructured, random, or unwanted sound with no deliberate pattern. The line can be subjective, since one listener's music is another's noise, but organisation and intent are what set music apart.
What are the main genres of music?
Widely recognised genres include classical, jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop, folk, country, blues, electronic, and world music. Each has its own conventions of instruments, rhythm, and style, and most branch into many subgenres. Genres overlap constantly, and new ones emerge as artists blend existing traditions.
Why is music important?
Music expresses emotion, tells stories, and brings people together across every culture on earth. It supports memory, mood, and concentration, marks ceremonies and celebrations, and preserves cultural identity. For many, it is also simply a source of joy, comfort, and personal meaning in daily life.
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