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musical definition

mu·si·cal (myo̵̅o̅′zi kəl)

adjective

  1. of or for the creation, production, or performance of music
  2. having the nature of music; melodious or harmonious
  3. fond of, sensitive to, or skilled in music
  4. set to music; accompanied by music

Etymology: ME < ML musicalis < L musica

noun

  1. ☆ a theatrical or film production, often elaborately costumed and staged, with dialogue developing the story line and an integrated musical score featuring songs and dances in a popular idiom
    in full, variously, musical comedy or musical play or musical drama
  2. Archaic musicale

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

musical Synonyms

musical

modif.

  1. Having the qualities of music

    harmonious, tuneful, dulcet, sweet, pleasing, agreeable, euphonious, melic, symphonious, symphonic, lyric, mellow, vocal, choral, silvery, canorous, assonant, unisonant, unisonous, homophonous, consonant, rhythmical; see also harmonious 1, melodious.

    Antonyms tuneless, discordant, harsh.

  2. Having aptitude for music

    gifted, talented, musically inclined; see artistic 2.


musical

n.

musicale, choral service, songfest, musical comedy, Broadway show, song-and-dance, minstrel show, oratorio, burlesque; see also opera, performance 2, show 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

musical Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • perform: Under the creative direction of Joan Macalpine, the Thorndike Young Stagers performed new musicals based on local themes.

Adjective modifier

  • West: Louise Gold is making a habit of playing unsavory characters in West End musicals.

Modifies a noun

  • instrument: Learning a musical instrument is a gift for life.

Used with adjective complement

  • hit: The smash hit musical based around the songs of ABBA hits the road.

Noun used with modifier

  • hit: The star of such hit musicals as Kiss Me Kate and Showboat, Kathryn Grayson was originally made to ride horses!
musical usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

musical quotes

Happy is the country which has no history, and happier still is that musical comedyabout which one can find nothing to say.

-Agate,James

Which is more musical, a truck passing bya factory or a truck passing by a music school?

-Cage,John

Hell isfull of musical amateurs: music isthebrandyofthe damned.

-Shaw, George Bernard

musical quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"musical." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/musical>

APA Style

musical. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/musical

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