n. & v.
--n.
1. Mus. a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.
2 Psychol. loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment.
--v.intr. (fugues, fugued, fuguing) Mus. compose or perform a fugue.
Derivatives:
fuguist n.
Etymology: F or It. f. L fuga flight