Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

mu·si·cal       (myōō'zĭ-kəl)  Pronunciation Key  adj.   Of, relating to, or capable of producing music: a musical instrument. Characteristic of or resembling music; melodious: a musical speaking voice. Set to or accompanied by music: a musical revue. Devoted to or skilled in music. n.   A play or movie that contains musical numbers. A musical comedy. Archaic A musicale. mu'si·cal·ly adv.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

musical
adjective
1.	characterized by or capable of producing music; "a musical evening"; "musical instruments"
2.	talented in or devoted to music; "comes from a very musical family" [ant: nonmusical]
3.	characteristic of or resembling or accompanied by music; "a musical speaking voice"; "a musical comedy" [ant: nonmusical]
4.	containing or constituting or characterized by pleasing melody; "the melodious song of a meadowlark" [syn: melodious] [ant: unmelodic]
noun
1.	a play or film whose action and dialogue is interspersed with singing and dancing

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
musical

A play or film that contains musical numbers. Musicals can be comedic (see musical comedy) or serious in tone, such as Porgy and Bess.

[Chapter:] Fine Arts

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Musical

Mu"sic\, n. [F. musique, fr. L. musica, Gr. ? (sc. ?), any art over which the Muses presided, especially music, lyric poetry set and sung to music, fr. ? belonging to Muses or fine arts, fr. ? Muse.]

1. The science and the art of tones, or musical sounds, i. e., sounds of higher or lower pitch, begotten of uniform and synchronous vibrations, as of a string at various degrees of tension; the science of harmonical tones which treats of the principles of harmony, or the properties, dependences, and relations of tones to each other; the art of combining tones in a manner to please the ear.

Note: Not all sounds are tones. Sounds may be unmusical and yet please the ear. Music deals with tones, and with no other sounds. See Tone.

2. (a) Melody; a rhythmical and otherwise agreeable succession of tones. (b) Harmony; an accordant combination of simultaneous tones.

3. The written and printed notation of a musical composition; the score.

4. Love of music; capacity of enjoying music.

The man that hath no music in himself Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. --Shak.

5. (Zo["o]l.) A more or less musical sound made by many of the lower animals. See Stridulation.

Magic music, a game in which a person is guided in finding a hidden article, or in doing a specific art required, by music which is made more loud or rapid as he approaches success, and slower as he recedes. --Tennyson.

Music box. See Musical box, under Musical.

Music hall, a place for public musical entertainments.

Music loft, a gallery for musicians, as in a dancing room or a church.

Music of the spheres, the harmony supposed to be produced by the accordant movement of the celestial spheres.

Music paper, paper ruled with the musical staff, for the use of composers and copyists.

Music pen, a pen for ruling at one time the five lines of the musical staff.

Music shell (Zo["o]l.), a handsomely colored marine gastropod shell (Voluta musica) found in the East Indies; -- so called because the color markings often resemble printed music. Sometimes applied to other shells similarly marked.

To face the music, to meet any disagreeable necessity without flinching. [Colloq. or Slang]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Musical

Mu"sic*al\, a. [Cf. F. musical.] Of or pertaining to music; having the qualities of music; or the power of producing music; devoted to music; melodious; harmonious; as, musical proportion; a musical voice; musical instruments; a musical sentence; musical persons.

Musical, or Music, box, a box or case containing apparatus moved by clockwork so as to play certain tunes automatically.

Musical fish (Zo["o]l.), any fish which utters sounds under water, as the drumfish, grunt, gizzard shad, etc.

Musical glasses, glass goblets or bowls so tuned and arranged that when struck, or rubbed, they produce musical notes. CF. Harmonica, 1.