melody
melody Lexical Profile
melody Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single, cohesive entity.
"The composer hummed a beautiful melody while walking through the park."
The principal or leading part in a harmonic composition, distinct from the accompaniment.
"The violins carried the melody while the cellos provided a rich harmonic backing."
A sweet or agreeable arrangement of sounds; an inherent musical quality.
"There was a certain melody in her voice when she spoke about her childhood."
Word Nuance & Usage
Melody is often distinguished from 'harmony' (which refers to notes played simultaneously) and 'rhythm' (the timing and pacing of notes), specifically representing the linear, horizontal succession of musical tones.
• Rhymes for melody
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'melodie', derived from Old French 'melodie' and Late Latin 'melodia', ultimately from the Greek 'melōidia' meaning 'singing' or 'chanting' (from 'melos' meaning 'song' or 'tune' and 'aeidein' meaning 'to sing').