philharmonic - Definitions from Dictionary.com

5 results for: philharmonic

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

phil·har·mon·ic

Audio Help [fil-hahr-mon-ik, fil-er-] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	fond of or devoted to music; music-loving: used esp. in the name of certain musical societies that sponsor symphony orchestras (Philharmonic Societies) and hence applied to their concerts (philharmonic concerts).

2.	of, noting, or presented by a symphony orchestra or the society sponsoring it.

–noun

3.	a symphony orchestra or the society sponsoring it.

[Origin: 1755–65; phil- + harmonic; modeled on F philharmonique or It filarmonico

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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philharmonic

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

phil·har·mon·ic Audio Help (fĭl'här-mŏn'ĭk, fĭl'ər-) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Devoted to or appreciative of music.
Relating to a symphony orchestra.

n. also Philharmonic
A symphony orchestra or the group that supports it.

[French philharmonique, from Italian filarmonico : Greek phil-, philo-, philo- + Greek harmonika, theory of music, from neuter pl. of harmonikos, musical; see harmonic.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
philharmonic

1813 (name of a society founded in London for the promotion of instrumental music), from Fr. philharmonique (1739), from It. filarmonico, lit. "loving harmony," from Gk. philos "loving" + ta harmonika "theory of harmony, music," from neut. pl. of harmonikos (see harmonic).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

philharmonic
adjective
1.	composing or characteristic of an orchestral group; "philharmonic players"
2.	devoted to or appreciative of music; "the most philharmonic ear is at times deeply affected by a simple air"
noun
1.	a large orchestra; can perform symphonies; "we heard the Vienna symphony" [syn: symphony orchestra]