melisma

[mi-liz-muh] /mɪˈlɪz mə/
noun, plural melismas, melismata
[mi-liz-muh-tuh] /mɪˈlɪz mə tə/ (Show IPA). Music.
1.
an ornamental phrase of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in plainsong or blues singing.
Origin
1605-15; < Greek mélisma song, tune. See melody, -ism
Related forms
melismatic
[mel-iz-mat-ik] /ˌmɛl ɪzˈmæt ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective
Examples from the web for melisma
  • It's all about melisma, volume, pitch and the duration of notes.
British Dictionary definitions for melisma

melisma

/mɪˈlɪzmə/
noun (pl) -mata (-mətə), -mas
1.
(music) an expressive vocal phrase or passage consisting of several notes sung to one syllable
Derived Forms
melismatic (ˌmɛlɪzˈmætɪk) adjective
Word Origin
C19: from Greek: melody
Word Origin and History for melisma
n.

1837, from Greek melisma "a song, an air, a tune, melody," from melos "music, song, melody; musical phrase or member," literally "limb," from PIE *mel- "a limb." Related: Melismatic.