Main Entry: me·lis·ma

Pronunciation: \mi-ˈliz-mə\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural me·lis·ma·ta \-mə-tə\

Etymology: New Latin, from Greek, song, melody, from melizein to sing, from melos song

Date: circa 1880

1 : a group of notes or tones sung on one syllable in plainsong
2 : melodic embellishment
3 : cadenza

— mel·is·mat·ic \ˌme-ləz-ˈma-tik\ adjective