Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

melismatic

[mi-liz-muh]

noun, plural me·lis·mas, me·lis·ma·ta

[-muh-tuh] . Music.

an ornamental phrase of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in plainsong or blues singing.

Origin:
1605–15; < Greek mélisma song, tune. See melody, -ism

Related forms

mel·is·mat·ic

[mel-iz-mat-ik] , adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To melismatic

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Melismatic is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Collins

World English Dictionary

melisma (mɪˈlɪzmə)

—n , pl -mata, -mas
	music an expressive vocal phrase or passage consisting of several notes sung to one syllable

[C19: from Greek: melody]

melismatic

—*adj*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com

Searching for melismatic? How many words do you actually know?

FIND OUT

Use Dictionary.com faster without ads >>

Quote Of The Day

"For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word."

-Catherine Drinker Bowen

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help