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
