1. Pyotr Ilyich (pjɔtr iljˈjitʃ). 1840–93, Russian composer. His works, which are noted for their expressive melodies, include the Sixth Symphony (the Pathétique; 1893), ballets, esp Swan Lake (1876) and The Sleeping Beauty (1889), and operas, including Eugene Onegin (1879) and The Queen of Spades (1890), both based on works by Pushkin