song
song
Song (noun) means a short piece of music with words, meant to be sung. Example: “She hummed her favourite song on the way to work.”
noun
1
A short piece of music with words, meant to be sung.
"She hummed her favourite song on the way to work."
"The band played three new songs at the concert."
"The children learned a new song at school today."
2
The musical sound a bird or other animal makes, especially to attract a mate or mark territory.
"The dawn chorus was full of birdsong."
"The blackbird's song woke us early in the morning."
"We heard the whales' eerie song through the hull of the boat."
3
A very low price, well below what something is worth (used in the phrase "for a song").
"He picked up the vintage guitar for a song at a car boot sale."
"She bought the old sofa for a song at the market."
"They sold the furniture for a song when they moved abroad."
How to use song
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA piece of music with lyrics, or the musical calls animals make.
Common pairings
sing a song
write a song
bird song
for a song
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Word forms
- Plural
- songs
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She hummed her favourite _____ on the way to work.
Etymology
From Old English sang, going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "to sing." Related to the German word Sang and the Dutch zang.
Related words
Rhymes for song
See all rhymes for song →Frequently asked questions
What does “song” mean?
The word “song” means a short piece of music with words, meant to be sung. In plain terms, a piece of music with lyrics, or the musical calls animals make.
How do you pronounce “song”?
“Song” is pronounced song (/sɒŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “song” in a sentence?
Here is “song” used in a sentence: “She hummed her favourite song on the way to work.”
What part of speech is “song”?
“Song” is a noun.
Where does the word “song” come from?
The word “song” comes from Old English. From Old English sang, going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "to sing." Related to the German word Sang and the Dutch zang.
Is “song” a common word?
“Song” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “song” have?
“Song” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short piece of music with words, meant to be sung.
What is the difference between a song and a tune?
A song is a complete short piece of music with words meant to be sung. A tune is just the melody — the sequence of notes you can hum — with or without lyrics. Every song contains a tune, but an instrumental tune with no words is not a song.
What are the parts of a song?
Most songs are built from a few repeating sections. The verse tells the story and changes each time; the chorus is the catchy, repeated part carrying the main message; and the bridge offers a contrasting section for variety. Many songs also open with an intro and close with an outro.
What are the types of song?
Songs are grouped by style and purpose. By genre there are pop, rock, folk, country, and many more. By purpose you find ballads that tell a story, anthems that rally a crowd, lullabies that soothe children, and hymns for worship. The words and mood define each type.
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