song

¹

[ sawng, song ]

noun

1. a short metrical composition intended or adapted for singing, especially one in rhymed stanzas; a lyric; a ballad.
2. a musical piece adapted for singing or simulating a piece to be sung: sung:

   Mendelssohn's “Songs without Words.”

3. poetical composition; poetry.
4. the art or act of singing; vocal music.
5. something that is sung. sung.
6. an elaborate vocal signal produced by an animal, as the distinctive sounds produced by certain birds, frogs, etc., in a courtship or territorial display.

Song

²

[ sawng ]

noun

, Pinyin.

1. a dynasty in China, a.d. 960–1279, characterized by a high level of achievement in painting, ceramics, and philosophy: overthrown by the Mongols. Also (Wade-Giles) Sung [].
2. Ai·ling [ahy, -, ling]. Ai-ling Soong.
3. Qing·ling [ching, -, ling]. Ching-ling Soong.
4. Mei·ling [mey, -, ling]. Mei-ling Soong.
5. Zi·wen [zœ, -, wuhn]. Tse-ven Soong.

Song

¹

/ sʊŋ /

noun

1. the Pinyin transliteration of the Chinese name for Sung

song

²

/ sɒŋ /

noun

1. 1. a piece of music, usually employing a verbal text, composed for the voice, esp one intended for performance by a soloist
   2. the whole repertory of such pieces
   3. ( as modifier )

      a song book

2. poetical composition; poetry
3. the characteristic tuneful call or sound made by certain birds or insects
4. the act or process of singing

   they raised their voices in song

5. for a song
   at a bargain price
6. on song informal.
   performing at peak efficiency or ability

Derived Forms

• ˈsongˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• songlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of song¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English song, sang, Old English; cognate with German Sang, Old Norse sǫngr, Gothic saggws

Word History and Origins

Origin of song¹

Old English sang; related to Gothic saggws, Old High German sang; see sing

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. for a song, at a very low price; as a bargain:

   We bought the rug for a song when the estate was auctioned off.

More idioms and phrases containing song

In addition to the idiom beginning with song , also see for a song ; swan song .

Example Sentences

A green check mark appeared next to the song’s title because the 68-year-old had added it to his Liked Songs playlist at some point.

From Los Angeles Times

The collection also includes a chicken cup used to serve wine for the Chenghua emperor and Ru wares made for the Northern Song dynasty court around 1086.

From BBC

The prize, worth about $53,000, and trophy were presented to Harvey at a ceremony in London by Paul Lynch, the 2023 winner with “Prophet Song.”

From Los Angeles Times

Songs are living organisms — you have to keep breathing life into them or giving them new bedfellows.

From Los Angeles Times

Anna Song of Palisades won her third consecutive City Section girls’ golf title, becoming only the second girls’ golfer in section history to achieve the feat.

From Los Angeles Times