melody

noun mel·o·dy \ ˈme-lə-dē \

Definition of melody

plural melodies

1 : a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds

whilst all the winds with melody are ringing
—P. B. Shelley

2 : a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole

a hummable melody

the piper's fingers play the melody on a pipe called a chanter
—Pat Cahill

—

melodic

play \mə-ˈlä-dik\ adjective

—

melodically

play \-di-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See melody defined for English-language learners

See melody defined for kids

Examples of melody in a Sentence

He wrote a piece that includes some beautiful melodies.
a composer known for his love of melody
He sang a few old-fashioned melodies.

Recent Examples of melody from the Web

Turning to a major work by his fellow Hungarian, Bela Bartok, Schiff used the same-sized string body to dig into the folkish melodies and rhythms of the 1939 Divertimento for String Orchestra.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Schiff moves with conviction from piano bench to CSO podium," 3 Nov. 2017
In rap music, where alchemical producers transform samples of crickets and gunshots into melody and rhythm, the prevailing anti-law is that anything can be made into music.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Why sweat the future of jazz when you can listen to Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah?," 22 Oct. 2017
Audiences are wowed when he multi-tasks melodies and bass lines on his resonator guitar.

— david lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "New for 2017: Top 25 Indiana musicians of all time," 25 Sep. 2017
Within its dreamlike quality, the melodies and supporting performances never lose focus and the logic never wavers.

— jim fusilli, WSJ, "‘Aromanticism’ by Moses Sumney Review:," 21 Sep. 2017
In his setting of the folk song, Alagyaz, for example, Suni quite literally drew a relationship between the melody and the mountain range after which the song is named (the range that is today called Mount Aragats).

— karine vann, Smithsonian, "Why This Composer Made Melodies Out of Mountainsides," 30 June 2017
Instead, her music references '80s and '90s sounds in its own style of minimalist rock-pop: a little bit punk, a little bit rap-sung, and plenty of catchy melody for good measure.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Taylor Swift's Brand New Song 'Gorgeous' Is Here," 20 Oct. 2017
Like the synthesizer-embracing Spoon, ABBA-borrowing Arcade Fire and Jack Antonoff-collaborating St. Vincent, Queens is just the latest veteran indie-rock act to shake things up and embrace pop melodies and dance rhythms this year.

— piet levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Josh Homme smokes, drinks and dances at Queens of the Stone Age's awesome Milwaukee show," 16 Oct. 2017
Some believe the melody means respect for the fallen among our military and police.

— erik brady, USA TODAY, "How national anthem became essential part of sports," 26 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'melody.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of melody

Middle English melodie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin melodia, from Greek melōidia chanting, music, from melos limb, musical phrase, song (probably akin to Breton mell joint) + aeidein to sing — more at ode

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year