/ ˈmelədi; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] a tune, especially the main tune in a piece of music written for several instruments or voices :
a haunting melody
The melody is then taken up by the flutes.
2.
[ C ] a piece of music or a song with a clear or simple tune :
old Irish melodies
3.
[ U ] the arrangement of musical notes in a tune :
a few bars of melody drifted towards us
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (also in the sense sweet music ): from Old French melodie , via late Latin from Greek melōidia , from melos song.