musical

[myoo-zi-kuh l] /ˈmyu zɪ kəl/
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or producing music:
a musical instrument.
2.
of the nature of or resembling music; melodious; harmonious.
3.
fond of or skilled in music.
4.
set to or accompanied by music:
a musical entertainment.
noun
5.
Also called musical comedy. a play or motion picture in which the story line is interspersed with or developed by songs, dances, and the like.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin mūsicālis. See music, -al1
Related forms
musically, adverb
musicality, musicalness, noun
antimusical, adjective
antimusically, adverb
antimusicalness, noun
nonmusical, adjective
nonmusically, adverb
nonmusicalness, noun
premusical, adjective
premusically, adverb
quasi-musical, adjective
quasi-musically, adverb
unmusicality, noun
Can be confused
musical, musicale.
Synonyms
1. tuneful, dulcet, sweet, lyric.
Examples from the web for musical
  • In essence, a new rainbow of physics emerges by shining old physics through a musical prism.
  • People from all types of academic disciplines become college presidents, but relatively few have extensive musical backgrounds.
  • She trekked to libraries and music centers, examining newspaper clippings and programs from hundreds of musical performances.
  • It required listeners to accept challenge and complexity and musical learning.
  • Candidates should bring strong musical skills on the major instrument as well as in piano, voice and guitar.
  • The closest thing to timeless any musical artist could possibly achieve.
  • What she has in mind is a big tent, one that doesn't exclude fancy toys or snappy musical productions.
  • The next year he still yearned for a musical career.
  • To my ear its song seemed more musical than that of the nightingale.
  • We're a musical family, and have been for some generations on both sides.
British Dictionary definitions for musical

musical

/ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or used in music: a musical instrument
2.
harmonious; melodious: musical laughter
3.
talented in or fond of music
4.
involving or set to music: a musical evening
noun
5.
short for musical comedy
Derived Forms
musically, adverb
musicalness, musicality, noun
Word Origin and History for musical
adj.

early 15c., "pertaining to music; tuneful, harmonious; adept at making music," from Middle French musical (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin musicalis, from Latin musica (see music). Musical box is from 1829. Children's game musical chairs is attested from 1877, hence use of musical as a modifier meaning "changing rapidly from one to another possessor" (1924). Related: Musically.

n.

"theatrical piece in which music figures prominently," 1937, from musical (adj.) in musical play. Earlier as a noun it meant "musical instrument" (c.1500), "musical performance" (1570s); "musical party" (1823, a sense now in musicale).

musical in Culture

musical definition


A play or film that contains musical numbers. Musicals can be comedic (see musical comedy) or serious in tone, such as Porgy and Bess.

Slang definitions & phrases for musical

musical

modifier

Changing rapidly from one to another possessor: At night in Port-au-Prince a massive game of musical houses is going on/ The revolving cast of Love Letters has become something of a game of musical celebrities/ Neither partner will relinquish the coop; this is black comedy, a wickedly funny tale of musical apartments and malfunctioning appliances

[1924+; the date refers to the first occurrence of musical chairs, the game in which players circle a set of chairs and sit in any one available when the music stops]