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Definition of music noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    music

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈmyuzɪk//
     
    [uncountable]
     
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  1. 1sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to. People sing music or play it on instruments pop/dance/classical/church music to listen to music She could hear music playing somewhere. It was a charming piece of music. the popularity of Mozart's music He wrote the music but I don't know who wrote the words. The poem has been set to music. Every week they get together to make music (= to play music or sing). see chamber music, country music, rock music
  2. 2the art of writing or playing music to study music a career in music music lessons the music business/industry
  3. 3the written or printed signs that represent the sounds to be played or sung in a piece of music Can you read music (= understand the signs in order to play or sing a piece of music)? I had to play it without the music. The music was still open on the piano (= the paper or book with the musical notes on it). see sheet music
  4. Idioms
    face the music (informal)
     
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    to accept and deal with criticism or punishment for something you have done The others all ran off, leaving me to face the music.
    music to your ears
     
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    news or information that you are very pleased to hear
Topic CollocationsMusiclistening
  • listen to/enjoy/love/ (informal) be into music/classical music/jazz/pop/hip-hop, etc.
  • listen to the radio/an MP3 player/a CD
  • put on/play a CD/a song/some music
  • turn down/up the music/radio/volume/bass
  • go to a concert/festival/gig/performance/recital
  • copy/burn/rip music/a CD/a DVD
  • download music/an album/a song/a demo/a video
playing
  • play a musical instrument/the piano/percussion/a note/a riff/the melody/a concerto/a duet/by ear
  • sing an anthem/a ballad/a solo/an aria/the blues/in a choir/soprano/alto/tenor/bass/out of tune
  • hum a tune/a theme song/a lullaby
  • accompany a singer/choir
  • strum a chord/guitar
performing
  • form/start/join/quit/leave a band
  • (informal) get/put a band together
  • give a performance/concert/recital
  • do a concert/recital/gig
  • play a concert/gig/festival/venue
  • perform a concert/(live) in concert
  • appear at a festival/live
  • go on/embark on a (world) tour
recording
  • write/compose music/a ballad/a melody/a tune/a song/a theme song/an opera/a symphony
  • land/get/sign a record deal
  • be signed to/be dropped by a record company
  • record/release/put out an album/a single/a CD
  • be on top of/top the charts
  • get to/go straight to/go straight in at/enter the charts at number one
See music in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary