common time

noun

, Music.

1. a meter or tempo of four beats per measure, with each of four quarter notes receiving a single beat. : C

common time

noun

1. music a time signature indicating four crotchet beats to the bar; four-four time C

Word History and Origins

Origin of common time¹

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

The first movement is in common time, but the composer gave it no heading.

From Project Gutenberg

The C, with a line through it, certainly did not distinguish common time from triple.

From Project Gutenberg

Is the time of the music generally common time, triple time, or irregular?

From Project Gutenberg

Denoting common time; the former indicating four crotchets to the bar, the latter two minims to the bar.

From Project Gutenberg

But be it here noted, there is no such a thing as a hora mundi or common time for the whole world.

From Project Gutenberg