musical

[ myoo-zi-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or producing music:

   a musical instrument.

   Synonyms: lyric, sweet, melodic, dulcet, tuneful

2. of the nature of or resembling music; melodious; harmonious.
3. fond of or skilled in music.
4. set to or accompanied by music:

   a musical entertainment.

noun

1. a play or movie in which the storyline is interspersed with or developed by songs, dances, and the like.

musical

/ ˈmjuːzɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in music

   a musical instrument

2. harmonious; melodious

   musical laughter

3. talented in or fond of music
4. involving or set to music

   a musical evening

noun

1. See musical comedy
   short for musical comedy

musical

1. A play or film that contains musical numbers. Musicals can be comedic ( see musical comedy ) or serious in tone, such as .

Derived Forms

• ˈmusicalness, noun
• ˈmusically, adverb

Other Words From

• mu·si·cal·ly adverb
• mu·si·cal·i·ty [myoo-zi-, kal, -i-tee], mu·si·cal·ness noun
• an·ti·mu·si·cal adjective
• an·ti·mu·si·cal·ly adverb
• an·ti·mu·si·cal·ness noun
• non·mu·si·cal adjective
• non·mu·si·cal·ly adverb
• non·mu·si·cal·ness noun
• pre·mu·si·cal adjective
• pre·mu·si·cal·ly adverb
• qua·si-mu·si·cal adjective
• qua·si-mu·si·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of musical¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Medieval Latin mūsicālis; music, -al ¹

Example Sentences

University of Toulouse archaeologist Carole Fritz and her colleagues recently recognized the shell as a musical instrument.

From Ars Technica

The song of a fin whale is not exactly the sort of thing you'd typically describe as musical.

From Ars Technica

In musical terms, grower Champagne is a like solo album, while house Champagnes are more collaborations, like GZA’s Liquid Swords compared to the group triumph of Wu-Tang Forever, or Zayn Malik’s latest compared with anything from One Direction.

From Eater

If the shell horn was used as a musical instrument, it’s certainly not the oldest.

From Science News

In the host city of Tampa, parties are being planned with performances by top musical acts.

From Washington Post

He was treated like an immigrant, working for minimum wage, missing his family and having to move on from his musical career.

From The Daily Beast

Her very first performance onstage came at the age of 4, when she cameoed as a dancing flower in the musical Bye Bye Birdie.

From The Daily Beast

Her mother had a musical theater background, so Malone grew up backstage, watching productions come to fruition.

From The Daily Beast

I heard that at one point you were trying to put together a Batman musical on Broadway.

From The Daily Beast

The cultural weather was particularly clement for musical theater writers during this period.

From The Daily Beast

All my musical studies till now have been a mere going to school, a preparation for him.

From Project Gutenberg

In connection with this step the practice of melodies is useful, if one has musical taste.

From Project Gutenberg

There cannot be many persons in the world who keep up with the whole range of musical literature as he does.

From Project Gutenberg

Chief and most musical among these signs were the almost forgotten sounds of dropping water, and tinkling rills.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a great thing for the musical education of the country to have such an organization travelling every winter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• choral
• melodic
• operatic
• rhythmic
• symphonic
• vocal