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lyric. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
lyric, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
lyric in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
lyric you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
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.
Pronunciation
Adjective
lyric (comparative more lyric, superlative most lyric)
- (poetry) 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
- Of or relating to a writer of such poetry
- lyrical
- Having a light singing voice of modest range
- Of or relating to musical drama and opera
- melodious
- Of or relating to the lyre (or sometimes the harp)
Derived terms
Noun
lyric (plural lyrics)
- A lyric poem.
- (usually in the plural) The words of a song or other vocal music.
- Synonym: songword
The lyric in line 3 doesn't rhyme.
The lyrics were written by the composer.
1998, “Moment of Truth”, in Moment of Truth, performed by Gang Starr:Yo, I got one lyric pointed at your head for start / Another one is pointed at your weak-ass heart
Usage notes
The singular form is sometimes used to refer to a part of the words, whereas the plural form is usually used to refer to all of the words. In formal usage, the singular form is still often used to refer to all of the words.
Derived terms
Translations
Anagrams