/ ˈmjuːzɪk; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to. People sing music or play it on instruments :
pop / dance / classical / church music
to listen to music
She could hear music playing somewhere.
It was a charming piece of music .
the popularity of Mozart's music
He wrote the music but I don't know who wrote the words.
The poem has been set to music .
Every week they get together to make music (= to play music or sing) .
—see also chamber music , country music , rock music , soul music
2.
the art of writing or playing music :
to study music
a career in music
music lessons
the music business / industry
3.
the written or printed signs that represent the sounds to be played or sung in a piece of music :
Can you read music (= understand the signs in order to play or sing a piece of music) ?
I had to play it without the music.
The music was still open on the piano (= the paper or book with the musical notes on it) .
—see also sheet music
•
IDIOMS
- music to your ears
—more at face verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French musique , via Latin from Greek mousikē (tekhnē) (art) of the Muses, from mousa muse.