melody

¹

[mel-uh-dee]

noun

plural

melodies 

1. musical sounds in agreeable succession or arrangement.

2. Music.

   1. the succession of single tones in musical compositions, as distinguished from harmony and rhythm.

   2. the principal part in a harmonic composition; the air.

   3. a rhythmical succession of single tones producing a distinct musical phrase or idea.

   Synonyms: theme, descant, song, tune

3. a poem suitable for singing.

4. intonation, as of a segment of connected speech.

Melody

²

[mel-uh-dee]

noun

1. a female given name.

melody

/ ˈmɛlədɪ /

noun

1. music

   1. a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; tune

   2. the horizontally represented aspect of the structure of a piece of music Compare harmony

2. sounds that are pleasant because of tone or arrangement, esp words of poetry

Other Word Forms

• melodyless adjective
• undermelody noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of melody¹

1250–1300; Middle English melodie from Medieval Latin melōdia from Greek melōidía “(choral) singing,” equivalent to mel- ( melic ) + -ōid- ( ode ) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of melody¹

C13: from Old French, from Late Latin melōdia, from Greek melōidia singing, from melos song + -ōidia, from aoidein to sing

Synonym Study

See harmony.

Example Sentences

“I accept that I have quite a distinct way of writing vocal melodies and sort of constructing songs,” he says via Zoom.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“That one song is the Jonas Brothers song — the exact same melody. And here’s how lazy that is: It’s the same key and the same tempo.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The synthesizers have all the delicacy of a bulldozer, and Swift’s voice is layered to the point where her gummy melodies also land with terrific force.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The Fate of Ophelia,” a song about powerlessness and heartbreak, is unassuming and blandly catchy with a melody whose shape vaguely resembles Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This, it’s a riff, and then it’s a hooky riff with a cool melody over it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chant 
• lyric 
• music 
• refrain 
• theme