Beethoven

American  

[bey-toh-vuhn, beyt-hoh-fuhn] / ˈbeɪ toʊ vən, ˈbeɪt hoʊ fən /

noun

1. Ludwig van 1770–1827, German composer.

---

Beethoven British  

/ ˈbeɪtˌhəʊvən /

noun

1. Ludwig van (ˈluːtvɪç fan). 1770–1827, German composer, who greatly extended the form and scope of symphonic and chamber music, bridging the classical and romantic traditions. His works include nine symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, five piano concertos, a violin concerto, two masses, the opera Fidelio (1805), and choral music

---

Other Word Forms

• Beethovenian adjective
• Beethovian adjective

Example Sentences

"She'd be in the front room pounding Beethoven or some dramatic score with the door locked. I do have turbulent feelings when I go to concerts and hear that sort of music."

From BBC

Karajan probably never conducted a bad performance of Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony, but did he ever lead a more hell-for-leather reading than this one?

From The Wall Street Journal

He won two Emmy Awards, first in 1972 for producing and directing Bernstein on Beethoven: A Celebration in Vienna, then in 1988 for the Great Performances episode Celebrating Gershwin.

From BBC

"How many Mozarts or Beethovens are there in the favelas of Rio, just waiting for a chance to develop, waiting for the opportunity to pursue their dreams?" he asked attendees.

From Barron's

Best known for composing the Brandenburg Concertos, he was described by the 18th-century composer Ludwig Van Beethoven as "the immortal god of harmony".

From Barron's