Standard Lemma guide

cantillation

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌkæntɪˈleɪʃən/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The intonation of a sentence, especially in Hebrew script, codified by marks which are read as sequences of musical pitches.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Chanting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

liturgical chanting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: intonation, chanting

History

Etymology

From or equivalent to cantillate + -ion / -ation.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: cantillation — the intonation of a sentence
  • Hebrew: טעמי המקרא — music, Judaism: trope symbols or marks
  • Yiddish: טראָפּ (trop) — music, Judaism: trope symbols or marks