Main Entry:

ra·ga

Pronunciation:

\ˈrä-gə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Sanskrit rāga, literally, color, tone; akin to Sanskrit rajyati it reddens, Greek rhezein to dye

Date:

1788

1 : one of the ancient traditional melodic patterns or modes in Indian music 2 : an improvisation based on a traditional raga — compare tala