melody

¹

[ mel-uh-dee ]

noun

, plural mel·o·dies.

1. musical sounds in agreeable succession or arrangement.
2. Music.
   1. the succession of single tones in musical compositions, as distinguished from harmony and rhythm.
   2. the principal part in a harmonic composition; the air.
   3. a rhythmical succession of single tones producing a distinct musical phrase or idea.

   Synonyms: theme, descant, song, tune

3. a poem suitable for singing.
4. intonation, as of a segment of connected speech.

Melody

²

[ mel-uh-dee ]

noun

1. a female given name.

melody

/ ˈmɛlədɪ /

noun

1. music
   1. a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; tune
   2. the horizontally represented aspect of the structure of a piece of music Compare harmony
2. sounds that are pleasant because of tone or arrangement, esp words of poetry

Other Words From

• melo·dy·less adjective
• under·melo·dy noun plural undermelodies

Word History and Origins

Origin of melody¹

1250–1300; Middle English melodie from Medieval Latin melōdia from Greek melōidía “(choral) singing,” equivalent to mel- ( melic ) + -ōid- ( ode ) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of melody¹

C13: from Old French, from Late Latin melōdia, from Greek melōidia singing, from melos song + -ōidia, from aoidein to sing

Synonym Study

See harmony.

Example Sentences

The Blurred Lines trial was hugely consequential for the music industry, after a jury ruled that Williams and Thicke had copied the sound and "feel" of Marvin Gaye's Got To Give It Up - rather than plagiarising a specific melody.

From BBC

Obviously living in New York, you always would see his name and I never was interested in that stuff, but as my art grew and then I saw this documentary, I was able to relate that there’s so much in a music melody and a music harmony, but there’s much in body movement.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the only times I’ve ever been inspired to write a melody was going across the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver — a melody came to me for the love theme of “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

From Los Angeles Times

The funny thing is that after Bryan did this amazing demo, Joel calls and he goes, “Oh my God, David, I’ve made such a big mistake — I put your melody up against the movie, and it’s perfect.”

From Los Angeles Times

Carey recalled the opening melody came to her late one night.

From Salon

Related Words

• chant
• lyric
• music
• refrain
• theme