| / English Dictionary |
SONG
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of singing
Example:
with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates
Synonyms:
song; strain
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("song" is a kind of...):
vocal music (music that is vocalized (as contrasted with instrumental music))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "song"):
carol (a joyful song (usually celebrating the birth of Christ))
cradlesong; lullaby (the act of singing a quiet song to lull a child to sleep)
Derivation:
sing (produce tones with the voice)
sing (deliver by singing)
songster (a person who sings)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The characteristic sound produced by a bird
Example:
a bird will not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age
Synonyms:
birdcall; birdsong; call; song
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("song" is a kind of...):
animal communication (communication between animals (of the same species))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "song"):
bell-like call (a birdcall that resembles the tone of a bell)
two-note call (a birdcall having two notes)
Derivation:
sing (to make melodious sounds)
songster (any bird having a musical call)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A short musical composition with words
Example:
a successful musical must have at least three good songs
Synonyms:
song; vocal
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("song" is a kind of...):
composition; musical composition; opus; piece; piece of music (a musical work that has been created)
Meronyms (parts of "song"):
language; lyric; words (the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number)
chorus; refrain (the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "song"):
work song (a usually rhythmical song to accompany repetitious work)
torch song (a popular song concerned with disappointment in love)
serenade (a song characteristically played outside the house of a woman)
banquet song; scolion (a song (sometimes improvised) sung by guests at a banquet)
roundelay (a song in which a line or phrase is repeated as the refrain)
prothalamion; prothalamium (a song in celebration of a marriage)
partsong (a song with two or more voice parts)
golden oldie; oldie (a song that was formerly popular)
berceuse; cradlesong; lullaby (a quiet song intended to lull a child to sleep)
love-song; love song (a song about love or expressing love for another person)
lied (a German art song of the 19th century for voice and piano)
folk ballad; folk song; folksong (a song that is traditionally sung by the common people of a region and forms part of their culture)
drinking song (a song celebrating the joys of drinking; sung at drinking parties)
coronach; dirge; lament; requiem; threnody (a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person)
ditty (a short simple song (or the words of a poem intended to be sung))
barcarole; barcarolle (a boating song sung by Venetian gondoliers)
ballad; lay (a narrative song with a recurrent refrain)
aria (an elaborate song for solo voice)
anthem (a song of devotion or loyalty (as to a nation or school))
religious song (religious music for singing)
Derivation:
sing (produce tones with the voice)
sing (deliver by singing)
songster (a person who sings)
songster (a composer of words or music for popular songs)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A distinctive or characteristic sound
Example:
the wheels sang their song as the train rocketed ahead
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("song" is a kind of...):
sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)
Derivation:
sing (make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound)
Sense 5
Meaning:
The imperial dynasty of China from 960 to 1279; noted for art and literature and philosophy
Synonyms:
Song; Song dynasty; Sung; Sung dynasty
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Hypernyms ("Song" is a kind of...):
dynasty (a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family)
Sense 6
Meaning:
A very small sum
Example:
he bought it for a song
Classified under:
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession
Hypernyms ("song" is a kind of...):
bargain; buy; steal (an advantageous purchase)
Context examples:
Did you ever hear the old song 'Going to One Wedding Brings on Another?'
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
Dark days will have come again before you hear such a song or see such a sight as that.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“The old sweet song,” said Holmes.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It was an old song, old as the breed itself—one of the first songs of the younger world in a day when songs were sad.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
Then some deep-water sailor, from the waist of the ship, lifted a rich tenor voice in the “Song of the Trade Wind”:
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
I am a beauty-merchant, a trader in song, and I pursue utility, dear Madge.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
For me, I say, no; but then I am old, and life, with his sunshine, his fair places, his song of birds, his music and his love, lie far behind.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
You will feel the rush of events and excitement, and the matter you will be thinking about will extend like a beautiful, lyrical song throughout most of January.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
"The sense of smell has been understudied in birds, particularly songbirds, because they frequently have such impressive plumage and song variation," says Rice.
(Scent brings songbirds to the yard, National Science Foundation)
Sometimes I tried to imitate the pleasant songs of the birds but was unable.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
