Melody \Mel"o*dy\, n.; pl. Melodies. [OE. melodie, F. m['e]lodie, L. melodia, fr. Gr. ? a singing, choral song, fr. ? musical, melodious; ? song, tune + ? song. See Ode.]

1. A sweet or agreeable succession of sounds.

Lulled with sound of sweetest melody. --Shak.

2. (Mus.) A rhythmical succession of single tones, ranging for the most part within a given key, and so related together as to form a musical whole, having the unity of what is technically called a musical thought, at once pleasing to the ear and characteristic in expression.

Note: Melody consists in a succession of single tones; harmony is a consonance or agreement of tones, also a succession of consonant musical combinations or chords.

3. The air or tune of a musical piece.

Syn: See Harmony.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)