lyric

[lir-ik]

adjective

1. (of poetry) having the form and musical quality of a song, and especially the character of a songlike outpouring of the poet's own thoughts and feelings, as distinguished from epic and dramatic poetry.

2. pertaining to or writing lyric poetry.

   a lyric poet.

3. characterized by or expressing spontaneous, direct feeling.

   a lyric song; lyric writing.

4. pertaining to, rendered by, or employing singing.

5. (of a voice) relatively light of volume and modest in range.

   a lyric soprano.

6. pertaining, adapted, or sung to the lyre, or composing poems to be sung to the lyre.

   ancient Greek lyric odes.

noun

1. a lyric poem.

2. Often lyrics. the words of a song.

lyric

/ ˈlɪrɪk /

adjective

1. 1. expressing the writer's personal feelings and thoughts

   2. having the form and manner of a song

2. of or relating to such poetry

3. (of music) having songlike qualities

4. (of a singing voice) having a light quality and tone

5. intended for singing, esp (in classical Greece) to the accompaniment of the lyre

noun

1. a short poem of songlike quality

2. (plural) the words of a popular song

lyric

1. A kind of poetry, generally short, characterized by a musical use of language. Lyric poetry often involves the expression of intense personal emotion. The elegy, the ode, and the sonnet are forms of the lyric poem.

Other Word Forms

• lyrically adverb
• lyricalness noun
• nonlyric adjective
• nonlyrical adjective
• nonlyrically adverb
• nonlyricalness noun
• semilyric adjective
• semilyrical adjective
• semilyrically adverb
• unlyric adjective
• unlyrical adjective
• unlyrically adverb
• unlyricalness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lyric¹

1575–85; < Latin lyricus < Greek lyrikós. See lyre, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of lyric¹

C16: from Latin lyricus, from Greek lurikos, from lura _lyre

Example Sentences

But when he got it right, his lyrics had an aphoristic directness that made them seem more hewn than written.

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Ms. Case’s lyrics are so vivid and well-rendered you feel like they could just as easily be transformed into epic poems, personal essays, or chapters in a book.

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“The way he finishes notes, the way he slurs into notes, the way vowels sound, the choices of sounds he uses in the lyrics he writes—it’s just clever,” he said.

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On “Actually Romantic,” listeners point to lyrics like “when the coke’s got you brave” as a nod to Charli’s drug-heavy songs from “brat.”

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It showcases a music video for “The Fate of Ophelia,” behind-the-scenes clips from the video shoot, lyric videos and commentary on the album.

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