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REFERENCE

lyrics

n.
US //ˈɫɪɹɪks// UK //lˈɪɹɪks// lyrics
  1. 1 words of a song (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    the words that you sing or hear in a song.

    the text of a song or other vocal musical composition. Usually plural in this sense.

    Example

    I love the melody of that track, but I can never remember the lyrics.

    Example

    The songwriter spent weeks refining the lyrics to ensure the emotional weight of the verses matched the intensity of the bridge.
    Pitfall
    I like the lyric of this song.
    I like the lyrics of this song.

    When referring to the complete set of words in a song, use the plural form 'lyrics'.

  2. 2 short poems (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Literary

    short poems that express the personal feelings of the writer.

    short poems, often intended to be set to music, that express the speaker's intense personal feelings or thoughts.

    Example

    The book contains several beautiful lyrics about nature and loss.

    Example

    Scholars often compare his early lyrics to the romantic traditions of the nineteenth century, noting a similar focus on subjective experience.

    Usage

    In this literary sense, the word can be used as a countable noun referring to individual poems.

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