Standard Lemma guide
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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
adj
Of, or relating to a type of poetry (such as a sonnet or ode) that expresses subjective thoughts and feelings, often in a songlike style.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: communications, journalism, literature, media, poetry, publishing, writing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Of or relating to a writer of such poetry.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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adj
Lyrical.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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adj
Having a light singing voice of modest range.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
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adj
Of or relating to musical drama and opera.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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adj
Melodious.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
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adj
Of or relating to the lyre (or sometimes the harp).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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name
A male given name.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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name
A female given name.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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noun
A lyric poem.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
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noun
The words of a song or other vocal music.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: plural-normally
Synonyms: songword
Antonyms: none provided
adjective
used of a singer or singing voice that is light in volume and modest in range
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: dramatic
adjective
of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses emotion (often in a songlike way)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective
relating to or being musical drama
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
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adjective satellite
expressing deep emotion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: lyrical
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a short poem of songlike quality
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: lyric poem
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: poem, verse form
Narrower terms: ode
noun
the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: words, language
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: text, textual matter
Narrower terms: love lyric
verb
write lyrics for (a song)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: write, compose, pen, indite
Narrower terms: relyric
History
From French lyrique, or its source, Latin lyricus, from Ancient Greek λυρικός (lurikós), from λύρα (lúra, “lyre”). Its English equivalent would be lyre + -ic. The original Greek sense of "lyric poetry"—"poetry accompanied by the lyre" i.e. "words set to music"—eventually led to its use as "lyrics", first attested in Stainer and Barrett's 1876 Dictionary of Musical Terms. Stainer and Barrett used the word as a singular substantive: "Lyric, poetry or blank verse intended to be set to music and sung". By the 1930s, the present use of the plurale tantum "lyrics" had begun; it has been standard since the 1950s for many writers. The singular form "lyric" is still used to mean the complete words to a song by authorities such as Alec Wilder, Robert Gottlieb, and Stephen Sondheim. However, the singular form is also commonly used to refer to a specific line (or phrase) within a song's lyrics.
Across languages
6 source translations are retained for this English entry.
