Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

melody

 - 4 dictionary results

mel⋅o⋅dy

  [mel-uh-dee]
Use melody in a Sentence
–noun, plural -dies.
1. musical sounds in agreeable succession or arrangement.
2. Music.
a. the succession of single tones in musical compositions, as distinguished from harmony and rhythm.
b. the principal part in a harmonic composition; the air.
c. a rhythmical succession of single tones producing a distinct musical phrase or idea.
3. a poem suitable for singing.
4. intonation, as of a segment of connected speech.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME melodie < ML melōdia < Gk melōidía (choral) singing, equiv. to mel- (see melic ) + -ōid- (see ode ) + -ia -y 3

Related forms:
mel⋅o⋅dy⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
1. See harmony. 2. tune, song, descant, theme.

Mel⋅o⋅dy

  [mel-uh-dee]
–noun
a female given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To melody
mel·o·dy   (měl'ə-dē)   
n.   pl. mel·o·dies

  1. A pleasing succession or arrangement of sounds.

  2. Musical quality: the melody of verse.

  3. Music

    1. A rhythmically organized sequence of single tones so related to one another as to make up a particular phrase or idea.

    2. Structure with respect to the arrangement of single notes in succession.

    3. The leading part or the air in a composition with accompaniment.

  4. A poem suitable for setting to music or singing.


[Middle English melodie, from Old French, from Late Latin melōdia, from Greek melōidiā, singing, choral song : melos, tune + aoidē, song; see wed-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

melody 
c.1290, from O.Fr. melodie, from L.L. melodia, from Gk. meloidia "singing, chanting, a tune for lyric poetry," from melos "song, part of song," originally "limb" + oide "song, ode." Melodic is from 1823.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see melody on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way