music

IPA/ˈmjuːzɪk/
KK[mjˈuzɪk]IPA/ˈmjuːzɪk/

music — noun

1. sounds that people create by singing, playing instruments, or using electronic d

1.nounA1
Definition

sounds that people create by singing, playing instruments, or using electronic devices, ordered so that they give enjoyment or communicate emotion

Example

Liang plays classical music on his violin every evening after work.

play + music + on + [instrument]

The music from the street market was loud and cheerful.

Common collocations
  • classical music
  • pop music
  • listen to music
  • play music
  • make music
  • background music
  • live music
Synonyms
  • melody

    focuses on the main sequence of notes, not the full arrangement of sounds

  • tune

    informal; refers to a short, catchy melody or song

  • harmony

    focuses on the combination of notes played together, not the full piece

Antonyms
  • silence

    complete absence of sound

  • noise

    unpleasant or unwanted sound without structure

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

Usage Note

Music is typically uncountable in English. Use 'a piece of music' or 'a song' for countable references to individual works.

Common Mistakes

She played a beautiful music.
She played beautiful music.
Music is uncountable and cannot take the article 'a'.
I like listen music.
I like listening to music.' or 'I like to listen to music.
The verb 'listen' requires the preposition 'to' when followed by a direct object.

2. the activity of creating, performing, or studying musical sounds as a subject or

2.nounA2
Definition

the activity of creating, performing, or studying musical sounds as a subject or profession

Example

Tunde is studying music at university and wants to become a conductor.

study music at [institution]

The music department at Élise's college offers classes in jazz history.

Common collocations
  • study music
  • music theory
  • music education
  • music department
Synonyms
  • musicology

    formal; specifically the academic study of music history, theory, and culture

  • musicianship

    focuses on practical skill in performing or composing music

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

Usage Note

Frequently appears in phrases like 'study music', 'teach music', 'a degree in music' to refer to the academic or professional pursuit.

3. symbols on a page that show a musician which notes to produce when playing or si

3.nounB1
Definition

symbols on a page that show a musician which notes to produce when playing or singing

Example

Ezra forgot to bring his sheet music to the choir practice.

collocation: sheet music

The singer looked at the music on the stand and began to sing.

Common collocations
  • sheet music
  • read music
  • music stand
  • written music
Synonyms
  • notation

    technical term for the system of written symbols used in music

  • score

    a written version of a complete musical piece showing all parts

  • sheet music

    music printed on individual sheets of paper, not bound as a book

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

Usage Note

Often used in the phrase 'read music' meaning to understand written musical notation. 'Sheet music' is the common term for music printed on paper.

Common Mistakes

I can read a music.
I can read music.
In this sense music is uncountable and does not take 'a'.

4. any sound that is pleasant to hear, such as the sound of birds, flowing water, o

4.nounB2
Definition

any sound that is pleasant to hear, such as the sound of birds, flowing water, or a loved one's voice — used figuratively to describe naturally beautiful sounds

Example

The birdsong outside Ezra's window was the sweetest music.

figurative use: sweetest music

To Paloma, the sound of rain on the roof was beautiful music.

Common collocations
  • sweet music
  • beautiful music
  • music to the ears
Synonyms
  • harmony

    implies a pleasant combination of sounds working together

  • euphony

    formal; refers to a pleasing sound quality of words or voices

Antonyms
  • noise

    loud, unpleasant, or unwanted sound

  • cacophony

    a harsh mixture of sounds that clash together

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

figurative usage

Usage Note

This is a figurative or poetic extension of the core meaning. It describes non-musical sounds that the listener finds as pleasing as music. Common in fixed expressions like 'music to my ears'.

Idioms

face the music

idiom

to accept and deal with the unpleasant results of something you have done wrong, without trying to avoid them

After breaking the window, the children had to face the music and tell their parents.

The project manager knew she had to face the music for the team's missed deadline.

music to one's ears

idiom

information or news that someone is very pleased and relieved to hear

When the doctor said the test results were normal, it was music to everyone's ears.

The news that the school holiday had been extended was music to the students' ears.

music to your ears

idiom

Something that you hear that makes you very happy.

When the boss said we all got a raise, it was music to my ears.

Hearing that the flight was on time was music to Sara's ears.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Music is the broadest term — it covers any arranged sounds from instruments, voices, or computers that create a pleasing effect. A song is music that includes words sung by a voice, usually with a clear structure of verses and a chorus. A melody is a specific sequence of notes that stands out as the main theme of a piece — the part you might hum to yourself. A tune is an informal word for a short, simple, catchy melody that is easy to remember. For example, you might say 'I love the music in that film' when referring to the entire score, but 'I can't get that song out of my head' if it has lyrics you keep recalling, or 'what is that tune you are whistling?' for a brief, recognisable melodic line.

song ↗melody ↗tune ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • music teacher
  • music lesson
  • music industry
  • music video
  • music festival

Phrases

  • piece of music
  • type of music
  • form of music
  • love of music

Prepositions

  • to music
  • of music
  • in music

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'music' comes from the Greek phrase 'mousikē (technē)', meaning 'the art of the Muses' — the nine goddesses of arts and sciences in Greek mythology. It passed into Latin as 'musica', then into Old French as 'musique', and finally entered Middle English as 'musike' before becoming the modern English spelling 'music'.