Beethoven

American  

[bay-toh-vuhn, bayt-hoh-fuhn] / ˈbeɪ toʊ vən, ˈbeɪt hoʊ fən /

noun

1. Ludwig van 1770–1827, German composer.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• Beethovenian
  adjective
• Beethovian
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Beethoven

She pushed forward Bach fugues—previously associated with the church, not concerts—and Beethoven piano sonatas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

He is joined by other musicians including Camper Van Beethoven lead singer David Lowery, blues musician Guy Forsyth and saxophonist Eduardo Calle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

I heard the Proms concerts, where Beethoven bloomed with illuminating lyricism, color, rhythmic versatility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

He was speaking from the shaded courtyard garden of his Mayer am Pfarrplatz heuriger, down the steps from the room where Beethoven stayed while composing part of the Ninth Symphony.

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

It is no exaggeration to say that after and because of Beethoven music approached the status of a religion, complete with gods and goddesses for worshipping, a state of affairs that persists to this day.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall