ENGLISH
REFERENCE

melody

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈmɛɫədi// UK //mˈɛlədi// melody

n. a sequence of musical notes that sound like a single tune. It is the part of a song that you usually sing or whistle along to.

n. a linear sequence of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. Often contrasted with harmony, which refers to the vertical combination of notes.


SIMPLE

The flute plays a beautiful melody.

CONTEXTUAL

The composer wrote a simple melody that stayed in the audience's heads long after the concert ended.

COMPLEX

While the rhythm section provides a driving pulse, the lead guitarist explores a complex melody that weaves through several key changes before returning to the main theme.

Synonyms
Origin

From the noun melody; in regular use since the 20th century.

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