Word
coda
Phoneticsco·da, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkoʊdə/
UK/kˈəʊdɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a short piece of music that comes at the end of a song or movement. It can also describe a final part of a story or event that wraps things up.
n. a concluding section of a musical composition or movement, often serving as a transition to the final cadence. By extension, it refers to a concluding part of a narrative or process.
Examples
“The song ends with a short, quiet coda.”
“After the main themes of the symphony had finished, the composer added a brief coda to leave the audience with a final, haunting melody.”
“The documentary concludes with a reflective coda that examines how the events of the previous decade have shaped the current political landscape.”
Examples
simple
“The song ends with a short, quiet coda.”
contextual
“After the main themes of the symphony had finished, the composer added a brief coda to leave the audience with a final, haunting melody.”
complex
“The documentary concludes with a reflective coda that examines how the events of the previous decade have shaped the current political landscape.”
Real-World Examples
“The Eleventh Hour, a collection of five stories, seems intended as a kind of coda to Rushdie’s career.” “Codas are hearing children who have at least one deaf parent.” Etymology
Borrowed from Italian coda (literally “tail”), from Latin cauda. Doublet of queue and cola.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
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