lyric
lyric Lexical Profile
lyric Game Scores & Validity
• noun
(Usually in the plural, 'lyrics') the words of a song, or a single line of text within a song, as distinguished from its musical melody.
"She memorized every lyric of her favorite album before attending the concert."
A short poem that expresses the personal thoughts and feelings of the poet in a musical, rhythmic style.
"The anthology features several Elizabethan lyrics alongside Shakespeare's sonnets."
• adjective
(Of poetry) expressing the writer's personal emotions and thoughts in an imaginative, song-like style, rather than telling a long narrative story.
"John Keats is celebrated as one of the greatest masters of English lyric poetry."
(Of a singing voice) having a light, flexible, and melodious quality suitable for graceful, cantabile music rather than heavy dramatic roles.
"The young soprano possesses a bright lyric voice ideal for Mozart's operas."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the words of a popular song as a whole, the plural form 'lyrics' is standard, whereas the singular 'lyric' typically refers to an individual line or phrase within the song. As an adjective, 'lyric' usually classifies a genre (as in 'lyric poetry' or 'lyric soprano'), while 'lyrical' describes an expressive, song-like quality of style.
• Rhymes for lyric
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century via Middle French 'lyrique' and Latin 'lyricus' from Ancient Greek 'lyrikos' ('singing to the lyre'), derived from 'lyra' ('lyre'), as Greek short poems were originally sung to the accompaniment of this stringed instrument.