lyrical
- 01 C1 Advanced
expressing deep feelings in a beautiful, poetic way.
expressing the writer's or speaker's emotions in an imaginative and beautiful way, often characterized by a rhythmic or song-like quality.
Simple“The novelist is famous for her lyrical descriptions of the Italian countryside.”
In context“The critic praised the author's lyrical prose, noting how the rhythmic flow of the sentences mirrored the rising and falling of the tide.”
SynonymsAntonymsprosaicdull - 02 C1 Advanced
having a pleasant, musical sound or style.
having a musical quality; suggestive of or appropriate for singing.
Simple“The violin concerto has a very lyrical second movement.”
In context“The composer moved away from harsh, modern sounds toward a more lyrical style that emphasized long, flowing melodies.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
relating to the words of a song.
pertaining to the lyrics of a song or the work of a lyricist.
Simple“The band's lyrical content often focuses on social issues.”
In context“Scholars have spent decades analyzing the lyrical themes of the folk revival, tracing how oral traditions were adapted for modern audiences.”
“The results are almost operatic: his long-breathed Adagio comes across as an achingly lyrical aria; the furious Scherzo a frenetic micro-drama.”
“The slow movement with its drawn-out lyrical lines found McGill cucumber cool, before eerie bowed vibraphone and a hair-raising cadenza launched a finale with a touch of an Irish jig about it.”
From lyric + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.