music
music
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "music" is /ˈmjuːzɪk/.
First syllable: /mjuː/
/m/: voiced bilabial nasal
/j/: voiced palatal approximant
/uː/: close back rounded vowel (long)
Second syllable: /zɪk/
/z/: voiced alveolar sibilant
/ɪ/: near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/k/: voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: music
Plural: (not typically used as a countable noun, but can be in specific contexts like "various musics of the world")
Adjective: musical
Adverb: musically
Verb: (to) make music (there isn't a direct verb form "to music")
Noun (person): musician
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: An art form characterized by the organization of sound through elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre, often created to evoke emotion, tell stories, or accompany various activities like dancing or rituals.
Synonyms: tune, melody, song, harmony, composition, sound
Antonyms: silence, noise (in the sense of unorganized or discordant sound)
Definition 2: The specific arrangement of sounds, written or performed, that constitutes a particular piece or genre of this art form.
Synonyms: piece, track, song, composition, tune, number
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, e.g., in contrast to speech or natural sounds)
Adjective (musical)
Definition 1: Possessing or exhibiting characteristics of music; pleasing to the ear due to harmonious qualities or a rhythmic nature.
Synonyms: melodic, harmonious, tuneful, rhythmic, lyrical, euphonious
Antonyms: unmusical, unmelodic, discordant, tuneless, unrhythmic, cacophonous
Definition 2: Having an aptitude for or devoted to the art of music.
Synonyms: gifted, talented, artistic, artistic (in a musical sense), musically inclined
Antonyms: unmusical, tone-deaf
Adverb (musically)
Definition 1: In a way that relates to or is characterized by music; with regard to musical elements or performance.
Synonyms: harmonically, rhythmically, melodically, artistically (in a musical context)
Antonyms: unmusically, discordantly
Definition 2: With a pleasing, tuneful quality.
Synonyms: tunefully, melodiously, harmoniously, euphoniously
Antonyms: unmusically, discordantly, cacophonously
Examples of Use
Books:
"The music swelled, filling the grand hall with a majestic sound that seemed to transcend time itself." (From The Gilded Cage by Margaret Atwood, a work of fiction)
"Throughout the 20th century, the evolution of recorded music profoundly influenced global culture and communication." (From Sonic Revolutions: A Cultural History of Sound by Dr. Alex Turner)
Newspapers:
"Nairobi's vibrant live music scene is set for a resurgence, with new venues opening and local artists gaining international recognition." (The Daily Nation)
"Critics are praising the latest album by Kenyan artist Sauti Sol, calling it a masterful fusion of traditional and contemporary music." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"TikTok's impact on the music industry is undeniable, transforming how new songs are discovered and artists break into the mainstream." (Rolling Stone Online)
"Apple Music and Spotify continue their battle for streaming supremacy, each vying to offer the most extensive library of music to subscribers." (TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue) "The music in this film just transports you to another world." (A line from a review of the film Dune: Part Two on Rotten Tomatoes)
Television Series: (Description) "The opening sequence features evocative instrumental music that sets a mysterious tone for the entire series." (From a synopsis of Bridgerton on Netflix)
Video Games: "Players often praise the immersive orchestral music that accompanies explorations in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom." (From a fan forum discussion)
Radio: "You're listening to NRG Radio, bringing you the freshest urban music and hottest hits from around the globe." (NRG Radio Kenya)
General Public Discourse:
"I always put on some classical music when I need to relax and focus." (Casual conversation)
"Did you hear that new pop music sensation? It's really catchy!" (Casual conversation)
"The best part of the party was the amazing selection of music the DJ played all night." (Social media comment)
10 Quotes Using Music
"Where words fail, music speaks." (Hans Christian Andersen)
"Without music, life would be a mistake." (Friedrich Nietzsche)
"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." (Bob Marley)
"The only truth is music." (Jack Kerouac)
"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." (Victor Hugo)
"Music is the universal language of mankind." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
"Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it." (Tom Lehrer - often misattributed as "Life is like music...")
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." (Berthold Auerbach)
"I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music." (Albert Einstein)
"Music can change the world because it can change people." (Bono)
Etymology
The word "music" has a fascinating journey through time, starting all the way back in Ancient Greece.
It comes from the Ancient Greek word "mousiké" (pronounced moo-see-KAY), which literally meant "(art) of the Muses." The Muses were nine goddesses in Greek mythology who inspired people in various arts and sciences, including poetry, dance, and, of course, what we now call music. So, in its very first known meaning, "music" was essentially seen as something that came from these divine sources of inspiration.
This Greek term then traveled to Latin, becoming "musica." From Latin, it made its way into Old French as "musique" in the 12th century, and eventually into Middle English as "musike" around the mid-13th century. The modern English spelling "music" as we know it today came into common use around the 1630s.
So, at its core, the word "music" has always been tied to the idea of an art form involving sounds, with its roots firmly planted in the ancient Greek concept of divine inspiration for creative expression.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Music
Face the music: To accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
Make music: To play or compose music.
Music to my ears: Something that is very pleasing or welcome to hear.
Change one's tune/music: To change one's opinion or attitude, often to a more agreeable one.
Elevator music: Bland, uninspired background music.
Strike up the band/music: To begin playing music.
Set to music: To compose music for a text or poem.
The music died: A situation or event that was enjoyable or successful suddenly ended.
Dance to the music: To conform to someone else's plans or rules.
Play background music: To provide subtle, often unnoticed, accompaniment or atmosphere.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of music from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
