definitions

berceuse

[ French ber-sœz ]
/ French bɛrˈsœz /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR berceuse ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ber·ceuses [French ber-sœz] /French bɛrˈsœz/. Music.

a cradlesong; lullaby.
a composition for instrument or voice, having a soothing, reflective character.

RELATED WORDS

music, song, croon

Nearby words

berberidaceous, berberine, berberis, berbice, berbice chair, berceuse, berchta, berchtesgaden, bercy, berdache, berdichev

Origin of berceuse

1875–80; < French, equivalent to berc(er) to rock + -euse -euse
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for berceuse

  • Every violinist plays, or ought to play, his delicious "Berceuse."

    Masters of French Music|Arthur Hervey

  • When d'Albert plays Chopin's Berceuse, beautifully, it is a lullaby for healthy male children growing too big for the cradle.

    Plays, Acting and Music|Arthur Symons

  • The plaintive melody of the berceuse rang in her ears on duty and off, till at last she could stand it no longer.

    Leerie|Ruth Sawyer

  • If you would like some more, I will play you the Berceuse now.

    The Damnation of Theron Ware|Harold Frederic

British Dictionary definitions for berceuse

berceuse

/ (French bɛrsøz) /

noun

a cradlesong or lullaby
an instrumental piece suggestive of this, in six-eight time

Word Origin for berceuse

C19: from French: lullaby, from bercer to rock
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012