raga
Americannoun
noun
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any of several conventional patterns of melody and rhythm that form the basis for freely interpreted compositions. Each pattern is associated with different aspects of religious devotion
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a composition based on one of these patterns
Etymology
Origin of raga
First recorded in 1780–90, raga is from the Sanskrit word rāga color, tone
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In one fine scene, Charu attends a raga performance in a concert hall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
Alla Rakha was the loyal tabla partner of Ravi Shankar, who created an international rage for raga in the 1960s, holding sway over the likes violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the Beatles and Philip Glass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025
The melodies are serenely expressive, the raga compositions melding with rhapsodic sitar and a cavernous reverb.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2023
Beck’s lead guitar takes over for the entire last minute, melding rockabilly and something like raga, leaving the rest of the band to whoop along.
From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2023
There is also often a mood associated with a raga, such as a time of day the song should be sung, or a season of the year like monsoon season, hot season, or winter.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
