ENGLISH
REFERENCE

quintet

n.
C1 Advanced US //kwɪnˈtɛt// UK //kwɪntˈɛt// quin·tet

n. a group of five people or things. You usually hear this word when talking about a small musical group or a set of five related items.

n. a group of five people or things. Often used in musical contexts to describe an ensemble or in general contexts to refer to a set of five related items.


SIMPLE

The jazz quintet played a great set last night.

CONTEXTUAL

The museum's collection includes a rare quintet of ancient coins from the same period.

COMPLEX

While a quartet is the most common ensemble for string instruments, a quintet allows for a richer harmonic texture and more complex counterpoint in the performance.

Synonyms
Origin

From French quintette, from Italian quintetto, diminutive of quinto (“fifth”), itself from Latin quintus, related to quīnque (“five”).

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