# music

/ˈmjuzɪk/ (US) · /mjˈuːzɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/music
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. art form or sounds

noun · CEFR A1

sounds that people make by singing or playing instruments, often to express feelings.

For teachers: an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound organized in time, typically featuring melody, rhythm, and harmony.

- She loves listening to classical music while she studies in the library.
- The composer experimented with unconventional rhythms to create music that challenged the audience's expectations of traditional harmony.

Usage: Uncountable noun; does not take an indefinite article or plural 's'.

### 2. sheet music

noun · CEFR B1

the written signs on paper that tell a musician which notes to play.

For teachers: the written or printed representation of a musical composition; notation intended for performance.

- He forgot his music at home, so he had to share a book with another violinist.
- The conductor spent hours annotating his music before the first rehearsal to ensure the orchestra understood his vision for the tempo.

Usage: Often used without an article when referring to the physical pages during a performance.

### 3. pleasing sounds

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

any sound that is very pleasant or beautiful to hear.

For teachers: any sound or combination of sounds characterized by a pleasing or harmonious quality.

- The sound of the rain on the roof was music to her ears.
- To the weary travellers, the distant babbling of the stream was absolute music after three days in the silent desert.

### 4. signal jamming

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Slang

the use of electronic signals to block or confuse radio communications.

For teachers: the deliberate transmission of signals intended to disrupt or jam enemy electronic communications.

- The pilots reported heavy music on their radio frequencies during the mission.
- The electronic warfare unit deployed sophisticated music to mask the fleet's movements from coastal radar installations.

Teaching tip: This is highly specialized military or technical slang; most native speakers will not recognize this meaning.

## Examples

- I like to listen to music while I work.
- The street performer played beautiful music on his violin for the passing crowds.
- While the technical proficiency of the orchestra was undeniable, it was the emotional depth of the music that truly resonated with the audience during the final movement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.