melody

¹ American  

[mel-uh-dee] / ˈmɛl ə di /

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.

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Melody ² American  

[mel-uh-dee] / ˈmɛl ə di /

noun

1. a female given name.

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melody British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See harmony.

Other Word Forms

• melodyless adjective
• undermelody noun

Etymology

Origin of melody

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

Explanation

In any musical composition, there is a dominant line that creates a tone pattern known as the piece's melody. There are specific rules for the musical composition of a melody, and most fall into regular patterns. The ancient Greek word melōidía was used to denote a tune for lyric poetry. It was derived from melos, which meant "song." In most songs, the melody follows a logical, mathematical pattern that creates a memorable line of notes. The word suggests a beautiful and pleasant sound, as was celebrated in the 1946 Irving Berlin lyrics, "A pretty girl is like a melody that haunts you night and day."

Example Sentences

The concert leaned heavily on the band's new album Arirang, which folds the melody and mythology of Korea's folk music into the band's hyperactive, experimental pop sound.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

He goes in for proclamatory melody, each note an event, when punched out by brass and lower string like hammering spikes in the ground.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

On “Pajarito,” a light and whimsical number in Spanish addressed to a little bird, he whistles part of the melody as the circular chord progression invites clapping along.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

“It has been a challenge going from the scandal to relationship to miscarriage to arrest to being pregnant again,” she says as a sentimental melody lilts in the background.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

I finally have the melody down and can accompany her pretty well.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Related Words

• chant
• lyric
• music
• refrain
• theme