musical
MYOO-zih-kuhl
Musical (adj) means relating to music, or produced by music. Example: “The film has a strong musical score that carries much of the emotion.”
adj
1
Relating to music, or produced by music.
"The film has a strong musical score that carries much of the emotion."
"She has a great musical talent and plays three instruments."
"Their musical tastes are quite different, so choosing a playlist takes ages."
2
Pleasant-sounding, like music; melodious.
"Her voice had a musical quality that made even ordinary sentences sound like song."
"The stream made a soft, musical sound as it ran over the stones."
"He greeted everyone with a warm, musical laugh that put them at ease."
noun
1
A stage show or film built around songs and dance numbers performed by the cast.
"They took the kids to see a West End musical for their birthday."
"Our drama club is putting on a musical about a travelling circus."
"The musical was so catchy that I hummed its songs all week."
How to use musical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with music, pleasant-sounding, or (as a noun) a singing-and-dancing stage show.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
musical talent
musical instrument
a Broadway musical
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Word forms
- Plural
- musicals
- Comparative
- more musical
- Superlative
- most musical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The film has a strong _____ score that carries much of the emotion.
Etymology
From Old French, ultimately from Latin musica ("music") plus the adjective-forming suffix -al.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for musical
See all rhymes for musical →Frequently asked questions
What does “musical” mean?
The word “musical” means relating to music, or produced by music. In plain terms, to do with music, pleasant-sounding, or (as a noun) a singing-and-dancing stage show.
How do you pronounce “musical”?
“Musical” is pronounced MYOO-zih-kuhl (/ˈmju.zɪ.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “musical” in a sentence?
Here is “musical” used in a sentence: “The film has a strong musical score that carries much of the emotion.”
What part of speech is “musical”?
Depending on how it is used, “musical” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “musical” come from?
The word “musical” comes from Latin. From Old French, ultimately from Latin musica ("music") plus the adjective-forming suffix -al.
Is “musical” a common word?
“Musical” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “musical” have?
“Musical” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to music, or produced by music.
What is the difference between 'musical' and 'music'?
'Music' is the noun — the art form or the sounds themselves. 'Musical' is usually the adjective, meaning relating to or produced by music, as in 'a musical instrument.' Confusingly, 'musical' is also a noun in its own right, naming a stage or film production built around songs.
What does it mean to call a person musical?
When someone is described as musical, it means they have a natural talent, sensitivity, or ear for music — they can sing, play an instrument, or appreciate melody with ease. It describes an aptitude rather than a fact about sound, so it works as a genuine compliment about ability.
Is 'a musical' the same as a play?
A musical is a type of play or film in which the story is told partly through songs and often dance, with music woven into the plot. It differs from a straight play, which relies only on spoken dialogue, and from an opera, which is almost entirely sung.
What is an example of 'musical' used as an adjective?
You might say 'she comes from a musical family,' meaning music runs through it, or 'the wind chimes made a musical sound,' meaning tuneful and pleasant. In both cases the word links something directly to music or to a melodic, harmonious quality that is nice to hear.
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