nocturne

noun

noc·​turne ˈnäk-ˌtərn 

: a work of art dealing with evening or night

especially : a dreamy pensive composition for the piano compare aubade sense 3

Examples of nocturne in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chopin's major piano works include mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, the instrumental ballade (which Chopin created as an instrumental genre), études, impromptus, scherzi, preludes, and sonatas, some published only posthumously. —New Atlas, 9 June 2025

Nowhere is the dream of pastoral harmony regained through scientific knowledge more beautifully realized than in Boucher’s nocturne of a cherub, telescope in hand, contemplating the moon. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025

As the lights in the room dimmed, and a twinkling Chopin nocturne piped softly from the speakers, a model in one of Browne’s short suits began slowly walking laps around the room, occasionally pausing to check his watch. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2024

The Gershwin took a while to hit its stride and was never totally immune to stalling, but the hazy urban nocturne of the second movement was a high point. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, noun derivative of nocturne "of the night," going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin nocturnus — more at nocturnal

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nocturne

• adjourn
• concern
• decern
• discern
• downturn
• extern
• heartburn
• interne
• return
• sunburn
• unworn
• upturn

Kids Definition

nocturne

noun

noc·​turne ˈnäk-ˌtərn 

: a work of art dealing with evening or night

especially : a dreamy composition for the piano