Word
melody
US/ˈmɛɫədi/
UK/mˈɛlədi/
Definitions
01a tune
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Music
n. a series of musical notes that follow each other to create a recognizable tune.
n. a sequence of musical notes that are perceived as a single, coherent structure; the principal part in a harmonic composition.
日本語:メロディー※
“The song has a simple melody that is very easy to whistle.”
“The composer introduced a haunting melody in the first movement, which was later developed into a complex fugue by the woodwind section.”
02musical quality
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. the quality of being pleasant to listen to because of the arrangement of sounds.
n. the quality of being melodious or tuneful; sweet-sounding arrangement of words or musical tones.
“I love the melody of the Italian language when it is spoken quickly.”
“The poet was celebrated for the natural melody of his verse, which seemed to sing even when read silently from the page.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “melody” in context.
Verb
01. carry the melody
“In this particular arrangement, the woodwinds carry the melody during the bridge.”
verb + noun
02. hum a melody
“She absentmindedly hummed a melody while she worked in the garden.”
verb + noun
03. improvise a melody
“The jazz pianist began to improvise a melody based on a simple three-note motif.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. haunting melody
“The haunting melody of the cello lingered in the concert hall long after the performance ended.”
adj + noun
05. intricate melody
“The composer is known for weaving an intricate melody through several different orchestral sections.”
adj + noun
06. soaring melody
“The soprano's soaring melody reached the highest notes with effortless grace.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. fragment of a melody
“I woke up with a tiny fragment of a melody stuck in my head, but I couldn't remember the rest.”
noun + of + noun
08. melody lingers
“The melody lingers in the listener's mind due to its repetitive and catchy structure.”
noun + verb
Real-World Examples
“The best-performing model identified performers with 94.4% accuracy, while a more interpretable model that separated melody, harmony, rhythm and dynamics reached 91.3% accuracy.” “Rod wanted the right sound for the melody line and went through the whole woodwind section of samples.” “It's a bravura performance that showcases her facility with melody and arrangement - and she essentially recreates it live on stage at the O2.” Etymology
From the noun melody; in regular use since the 20th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/melody
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0