Music \Mu"sic\, n. [F. musique, fr. L. musica, Gr. ? (sc. ?),
any art over which the Muses presided, especially music,
lyric poetry set and sung to music, fr. ? belonging to Muses
or fine arts, fr. ? Muse.]
1. The science and the art of tones, or musical sounds, i.
e., sounds of higher or lower pitch, begotten of uniform
and synchronous vibrations, as of a string at various
degrees of tension; the science of harmonical tones which
treats of the principles of harmony, or the properties,
dependences, and relations of tones to each other; the art
of combining tones in a manner to please the ear.
Note: Not all sounds are tones. Sounds may be unmusical and
yet please the ear. Music deals with tones, and with no
other sounds. See Tone.
2.
(a) Melody; a rhythmical and otherwise agreeable
succession of tones.
(b) Harmony; an accordant combination of simultaneous
tones.
3. The written and printed notation of a musical composition;
the score.
4. Love of music; capacity of enjoying music.
The man that hath no music in himself Nor is not
moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for
treasons, stratagems, and spoils. --Shak.
5. (Zo["o]l.) A more or less musical sound made by many of
the lower animals. See Stridulation.
Magic music, a game in which a person is guided in finding
a hidden article, or in doing a specific art required, by
music which is made more loud or rapid as he approaches
success, and slower as he recedes. --Tennyson.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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