n.
Pronunciation: mi- ' liz-m ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ma · ta \ -m ə -t ə \
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek, song, melody, from melizein to singular, from melos song
Date: circa 1880
1 : a group of notes or tones sung on one syllable in plainsong
2 : melodic embellishment
3 : CADENZA
– mel · is · mat · ic \ ˌ me-l ə z- ' ma-tik \ adjective