étude
Americannoun
-
a musical composition, usually instrumental, intended mainly for the practice of some point of technique.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of étude
From French, dating back to 1830–40; see origin at study
Explanation
An etude is a short, tricky tune that a musician plays mainly for practice or to demonstrate skill. Many etudes are meant to be played on the piano. Well-known composers like Debussy and Chopin wrote piano etudes that continue to be used for teaching beginning musicians. There are also etudes composed for other instruments, like guitar, violin, and cello. In French, the word étude means "study," from the Latin studium, which also means "study," though it first meant "eagerness," from studere, "to be diligent."
Vocabulary lists containing etude
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
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English Words Derived from French, List 8
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Under a Painted Sky
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Similarly, Hershey's Chocolate teamed up with K-beauty brand Etude House to release its own makeup kit, equipped with two mini chocolate bar-themed eyeshadow palettes, two sweet-themed lip tints and a brush duo.
From Salon • Jan. 14, 2023
Glass’ Piano Etude No. 6 was exceptional in its dramatic contrasts.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2022
I’ve suggested the standard Etude House cream before, but when fall kicks in I transition to their deep rich cream as a cheaper alternative to Tatcha’s cream.
From Slate • Oct. 16, 2018
I still have trouble believing that the deeply felt C-sharp Minor Etude was written by a 14-year-old, but there it is, and Bax treats it as the miniature masterpiece it is.
From Washington Post • Dec. 17, 2015
On taxes and confiscations in the provinces see M. de Martel, "Etude sur Fouch� et Pieces authentiques servant � l'histoire de la revolution � Strasbourg."
From The French Revolution - Volume 3 by Durand, John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
