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musical

[myoo-zi-kuh l]
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adjective
  1. of, relating to, or producing music: a musical instrument.
  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.
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noun
  1. Also called musical comedy. a play or motion picture in which the story line is interspersed with or developed by songs, dances, and the like.
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Origin of musical

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word mūsicālis. See music, -al1
Related formsmu·si·cal·ly, adverbmu·si·cal·i·ty, mu·si·cal·ness, nounan·ti·mu·si·cal, adjectivean·ti·mu·si·cal·ly, adverban·ti·mu·si·cal·ness, nounnon·mu·si·cal, adjectivenon·mu·si·cal·ly, adverbnon·mu·si·cal·ness, nounpre·mu·si·cal, adjectivepre·mu·si·cal·ly, adverbqua·si-mu·si·cal, adjectivequa·si-mu·si·cal·ly, adverbun·mu·si·cal·i·ty, noun
Can be confusedmusical musicale

Synonyms

See more synonyms for musical on Thesaurus.com
1. tuneful, dulcet, sweet, lyric.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for musically

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • “Is-o-bel––Is-o-bel,” Genevieve intoned the name 267 musically.

    Out of the Depths

    Robert Ames Bennet

  • I merely exploited him musically to bluff off the Class Beauty.

    Miss Pat at School

    Pemberton Ginther

  • "I love to speak to you," she said, musically drawling her words.

    Foma Gordyeff

    Maxim Gorky

  • In the desire to test her conclusion, she laughed quietly, musically.

    Under the Rose

    Frederic Stewart Isham

  • How silent they are, and how clearly and musically her voice sounds!

    Windsor Castle

    William Harrison Ainsworth

British Dictionary definitions for musically

musical

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or used in musica musical instrument
  2. harmonious; melodiousmusical laughter
  3. talented in or fond of music
  4. involving or set to musica musical evening
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noun
  1. short for musical comedy
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Derived Formsmusically, adverbmusicalness or musicality, noun
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

Word Origin and History for musically

musical

adj.

early 15c., "pertaining to music; tuneful, harmonious; adept at making music," from Middle French musical (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin musicalis, from Latin musica (see music). Musical box is from 1829. Children's game musical chairs is attested from 1877, hence use of musical as a modifier meaning "changing rapidly from one to another possessor" (1924). Related: Musically.

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musical

n.

"theatrical piece in which music figures prominently," 1937, from musical (adj.) in musical play. Earlier as a noun it meant "musical instrument" (c.1500), "musical performance" (1570s); "musical party" (1823, a sense now in musicale).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
musically in Culture

musical

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

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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.