melisma

[ mi-liz-muh ]

/ mɪˈlɪz mə /

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noun, plural me·lis·mas, me·lis·ma·ta

[mi-liz-muh-tuh]. /mɪˈlɪz mə tə/. Music.

an ornamental phrase of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in plainsong or blues singing.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of melisma

First recorded in 1605–15, melisma is from the Greek word mélisma “song, tune”; see melody, -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM melisma

mel·is·mat·ic

[mel-iz-mat-ik], /ˌmɛl ɪzˈmæt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby melisma

melioidosis, meliorate, melioration, meliorism, meliority, melisma, melismatic, Melissa, Melitene, Melitopol, melitose

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for melisma

melisma

/ (mɪˈlɪzmə) /

noun plural -mata (-mətə) or -mas

music an expressive vocal phrase or passage consisting of several notes sung to one syllable

Derived forms of melisma

melismatic (ˌmɛlɪzˈmætɪk), adjective

Word Origin for melisma

C19: from Greek: melody

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