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lyric

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪrɪk/
Translate lyric | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of lyric

adjective

  • 1(of poetry) expressing the writer’s emotions, usually briefly and in stanzas or recognized forms: lyric poems of extraordinary beauty
  • denoting a writer of lyric poetry:the lyric poets of Ancient Greece
  • 2(of a singing voice) using a light register:a lyric soprano with a light, clear timbre

noun

(usually lyrics)
  • 1a lyric poem or verse: an edition of Horace’s Lyrics
  • [mass noun] lyric poetry as a literary genre: stylistic categories fundamental to literary aesthetics—epic, lyric, drama, comedy, tragedy
  • 2the words of a popular song:she has published both music and lyrics for a number of songs

Origin:

late 16th century: from French lyrique or Latin lyricus, from Greek lurikos, from lura 'lyre'

lyric in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of lyric in the US English dictionary

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