quartet

especially British, quar·tette

[kwawr-tet]

noun

1. any group of four persons or things.

2. an organized group of four singers or players.

3. a musical composition for four voices or instruments.

quartet

/ kwɔːˈtɛt /

noun

1. a group of four singers or instrumentalists or a piece of music composed for such a group See string quartet

2. any group of four

   a quartet of fast bowlers

quartet

1. A group of four musicians or singers; also, a piece of music for four instruments or voices.

Word History and Origins

Origin of quartet¹

1765–75; < Italian quartetto, diminutive of quarto < Latin quartus fourth

Word History and Origins

Origin of quartet¹

C18: from Italian quartetto, diminutive of quarto fourth

Example Sentences

I was standing at the back of Methodist Central Hall in Westminster listening to a quartet of prime ministers.

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Their Eastside quartet, Cannibal and the Headhunters, had a spring smash with “Land of 1,000 Dances.”

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Those who have met Victor say is the most charismatic of the quartet and the most sharply dressed, with designer brown leather boots making him look good even in an orange flight suit.

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The resulting infield of Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey played together for 8 ½ seasons, longer than any quartet in baseball history, winning four pennants and a World Series.

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Despite relay medals supplying five of GB's 10 athletics medals at last summer's Games, there was no success here - with the men's 4x100m quartet failing to get the baton round in their heat.

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Related Words

• assemblage 
• band 
• cast 
• choir 
• chorus 
• orchestra 
• quintet 
• sextet 
• trio 
• troupe