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Definition of melody

melody

/ˈmɛlədi/
mel · o · dy
Adverb:melodically
•
Plural:melodies
•
Adjective:melodic
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melody Lexical Profile

melody Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single, cohesive entity.

Example

"The composer hummed a beautiful melody while walking through the park."

2

The principal or leading part in a harmonic composition, distinct from the accompaniment.

Example

"The violins carried the melody while the cellos provided a rich harmonic backing."

3

A sweet or agreeable arrangement of sounds; an inherent musical quality.

Example

"There was a certain melody in her voice when she spoke about her childhood."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for melody
Antonyms
View all antonyms for melody

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

melodramatic
melodramatically
melodramatics
melody
melon
melt
meltable

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').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Melody. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/melody
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