musical

[ myoo-zi-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or producing music:

   a musical instrument.

   Synonyms: lyric, sweet, melodic, dulcet, tuneful

2. of the nature of or resembling music; melodious; harmonious.
3. fond of or skilled in music.
4. set to or accompanied by music:

   a musical entertainment.

noun

1. a play or movie in which the storyline is interspersed with or developed by songs, dances, and the like.

musical

/ ˈmjuːzɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in music

   a musical instrument

2. harmonious; melodious

   musical laughter

3. talented in or fond of music
4. involving or set to music

   a musical evening

noun

1. short for musical comedy

musical

1. A play or film that contains musical numbers. Musicals can be comedic ( see musical comedy ) or serious in tone, such as Porgy and Bess.

Derived Forms

• ˈmusicalness, noun
• ˈmusically, adverb

Other Words From

• mu·si·cal·ly adverb
• mu·si·cal·i·ty [myoo-zi-, kal, -i-tee], mu·si·cal·ness noun
• an·ti·mu·si·cal adjective
• an·ti·mu·si·cal·ly adverb
• an·ti·mu·si·cal·ness noun
• non·mu·si·cal adjective
• non·mu·si·cal·ly adverb
• non·mu·si·cal·ness noun
• pre·mu·si·cal adjective
• pre·mu·si·cal·ly adverb
• qua·si-mu·si·cal adjective
• qua·si-mu·si·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of musical¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Medieval Latin mūsicālis; music, -al ¹

Example Sentences

In support of Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, Irving Berlin included the song “We Like Ike” in the 1950 Broadway musical “Call Me Madam,” with such lines as: “Harry won’t get out/He’s got squatter’s rights/But there’s Ike/And Ike is good on a mike.”

From Los Angeles Times

The actress Zoe Saldaña dons a red suit and fiercely works the room in this high-intensity sequence from the musical drama “Emilia Pérez.”

From New York Times

The satellite radio operator gave Yoakam his own channel in 2018 as a space to exercise his studious fandom — to talk with and highlight his peers and heroes and to share his musical taste and knowledge with listeners.

From Los Angeles Times

Holland, also 28, played the lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical in the West End as a child, and has since appeared in Uncharted, Cherry and The Devil All The Time.

From BBC

“We love mixing complementary colors, and the cyan and warm hues have visual elements that are part of the original film, but we’re also leading you into the musical side of this film when Lady Gaga begins to sing.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• choral
• melodic
• operatic
• rhythmic
• symphonic
• vocal