music

noun, often attributive mu·sic \ ˈmyü-zik \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

1 a : the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity

b : vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony

choral music

piano music

recorded music

2 a : an agreeable sound : euphony

her voice was music to my ears

the music of a nightingale

b : musical quality

the music of verse

the music of lovingly orchestrated words
—Saturday Review

3 : a musical accompaniment

a play set to music

4 : the score (see ¹score 6a) of a musical composition set down on paper

leafing through the music

5 : a distinctive type or category of music

there is a music for everybody
—Eric Salzman

rock music

jazz music

classical music

See music defined for English-language learners

See music defined for kids

Examples of music in a Sentence

This is one of my favorite pieces of music.
performing music in front of an audience
dancing to the music of a big band
They are writing music for a new album.
a song with music by George Gershwin and words by Ira Gershwin
He is learning to read music.
She studied music in college.

Recent Examples of music from the Web

James Ellsworth Hartwell, 80 of Rocky Hill passed away at home surrounded by music and his family.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "James E. Hartwell," 15 Apr. 2018
The groom’s mother previously served as a president of both the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation, a social services organization, and the Solvang Arts and Music Foundation, a provider of music education programs.

— New York Times, "Marianne Eagan, Kevin Burrows," 15 Apr. 2018
Proving that music is the best medicine, Yo-Yo Ma visited Dana-Farber this week and participated in a panel performance for patients and staff.

— mark shanahan, BostonGlobe.com, "Yo-Yo Ma visits Dana-Farber," 14 Apr. 2018
The festival, held over two weekends in Indio, California, attracts artists across various genres and is a highlight for many music fans.

— lisa respers france, CNN, "How to watch Beyoncé at Coachella," 13 Apr. 2018
The students, in turn, have learned how to create music alongside peers with similar interests and experiences.

— brittany britto, baltimoresun.com, "Blind Baltimore students tell their stories through song," 13 Apr. 2018
The event Wednesday included reflections from the church’s leader Rabbi Edward Friedman, as well as Mayor Richard Irvin, and music from the St. John African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral Choir of Aurora.

— david sharos, Aurora Beacon-News, "'Don't give up': 90-year-old Holocaust survivor shares her story," 13 Apr. 2018
Both overlook a pond, and the plan is to have acoustic music for guests in warmer months.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Plan to open Elgin restaurant in former Tilted Kilt site hits snag," 13 Apr. 2018
For the first leg of his tour, which kicked off in the fall of 2017, the pop star wore heavy brocade suits, bell-bottoms, and open shirts that called to mind a number of music and style legends, from David Bowie and Elvis Presley to Freddie Mercury.

— megan gustashaw, GQ, "Harry Styles Is Dressing Like Michael Jackson Now," 13 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of music

Middle English musik, from Anglo-French musike, from Latin musica, from Greek mousikē any art presided over by the Muses, especially music, from feminine of mousikos of the Muses, from Mousa Muse

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First Known Use: 13th century

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