Art & Music

piper C2

/ˈpaɪ.pɚ/ a musician who plays a pipe, flute, or especially bagpipes M S

madonna C2

/məˈdɑː.nə/ an artistic representation of the Virgin Mary, especially with the infant Jesus M S

anthem C2

/ˈæn.təm/ a song of praise, loyalty, or shared identity, especially for a nation, institution, or religious body M S

cupid C2

/ˈkjuːpɪd/ A putto carrying a bow and arrow, representing Cupid or love. M S

tempo C2

/ˈtɛm.poʊ/ in music, the speed at which a composition is to be played M S

chime C2

/ˈtʃaɪm/ a melodious ringing sound, or a set of tuned bells or metal bars that produces it M S

bugle C2

/ˈbjuːɡəl/ a simple brass instrument, usually without valves, used especially for military signals M S

carmine C2

/ˈkɑɹmaɪn/ a vivid purplish-red pigment or dye traditionally made from cochineal insects M S

choreography C2

/ˌkɔɹiˈɑɡɹəfi/ The art of arranging the steps and movements of a dance. M S

soprano C2

/səˈpɹænoʊ/ the highest female voice M S

clarinet C2

/ˌklæɹɪˈnɛt/ A woodwind musical instrument that has a distinctive liquid tone whose characteristics vary among its three registers: chalumeau (low), clarion (medium), and altissimo (high). M S

handiwork C2

/ˈhændiˌwɝk/ work done by hand, or an object made through manual skill M S

piccolo C2

/ˈpɪk.ə.loʊ/ a small transverse flute pitched an octave above the standard concert flute, with a bright, penetrating sound M S

ut C2

/uːt/ music: the original solfege name for the first note of a major scale, now usually called do M S

serenade C2

/ˌsɛrəˈneɪd/ a song or musical performance given for someone, traditionally outdoors in the evening as an expression of love M S

fife C2

/ˈfaɪf/ a small, high-pitched transverse flute, traditionally played with drums in military music M S

bard C2

/bɑɹd/ a poet and singer in a Celtic tradition, especially one who composed verses celebrating heroes and notable events M S

vamp C2

/væmp/ a short, repeated, often improvised musical accompaniment or chord progression M S

sonata C2

/səˈnɑːtə/ a substantial musical composition for one instrument or a small group, usually arranged in several contrasting movements M S

hallmark C2

/ˈhɔlmɑɹk/ A distinguishing characteristic. M S

lute C2

/luːt/ a plucked string instrument with a rounded back, flat front, fretted neck, and usually a bent-back pegbox M S

baroque C2

/bəˈɹoʊk/ In the highly decorated, dramatic style of European art and music of about 1600 to 1750. M S

dynamo C2

/ˈdaɪnəmoʊ/ An electricity generator; a dynamo-electric machine. M S

debacle C2

/dɪˈbɑ.kəl/ An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences. M S

figuratively C2

/fɪgˈjʊrətɪvli/ In a way that is meant as an image or comparison, not literally. M S

ode C2

/oʊd/ a formal lyric poem, often addressed to and celebrating or reflecting on a person, event, object, or idea M S

coercion C2

/koʊˈɝʒən/ Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing. M S

minstrel C2

/ˈmɪnstrəl/ historical: a travelling musician, singer, poet, or storyteller, especially in medieval Europe M S

complacent C2

/kəmˈpleɪsənt/ contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions M S

tarnish C2

/ˈtɑɹnɪʃ/ To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation. M S

oboe C2

/ˈoʊ.boʊ/ a high-pitched woodwind instrument with a narrow conical bore and a double reed, used especially in orchestras and chamber music M S

choral C2

/ˈkɔrəl/ relating to, written for, or performed by a choir or chorus M S

requiem C2

/ˈrɛkwiəm/ a Christian Mass or other service for the repose of the dead M S

ragtime C2

/ˈɹæɡˌtaɪm/ a style of music, especially for piano, with a strongly syncopated melody over a steady rhythm M S

pungent C2

/ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/ strong and sharp M S

bijou C2

/ˈbiːʒuː/ a small jewel, ornament, or finely made decorative object M S

figurine C2

/fɪɡ(j)əˈɹin/ a small sculpted or moulded representation of a person, animal, or imaginary figure, often made as an ornament or collectible M S

holistic C2

/hoʊˈlɪs.tɪk/ Relating to a study of the whole instead of a separation into parts. M S

ditty C2

/ˈdɪti/ a short, simple song or verse, especially one that is light or easy to remember M S

crescendo C2

/kɹɪˈʃɛn.doʊ/ a gradual increase in loudness, in music M S

organist C2

/ˈɔrgənəst/ a person who plays an organ M S

fantasia C2

/fænˈteɪ.zi.ə/ a free-form instrumental composition, often weaving together several themes M S

rhapsody C2

/ˈræpsədi/ an intensely enthusiastic or emotional expression in speech or writing M S

placate C2

/ˈpleɪkeɪt/ To calm; to bring peace to; to influence someone who was furious to the point that they become content or at least no longer irate. M S

harpsichord C2

/ˈhɑːrp.sɪ.kɔːrd/ a keyboard instrument in which pressing a key plucks a string, producing a bright, crisp tone M S

troubadour C2

/ˈtrubəˌdɔr/ a medieval lyric poet and musician, especially one composing in Occitan and singing of courtly love M S

cathartic C2

/kəˈθɑɹtɪk/ Purgative; inducing mental or physical catharsis. M S

posthumous C2

/ˈpɑs.t͡ʃə.məs/ occurring or coming into existence after a person's death M S

bagpipe C2

/ˈbæɡpaɪp/ a wind instrument whose pipes are sounded from air stored in a bag, usually referred to in the plural as bagpipes M S

trill C2

/trɪl/ a rapid alternation between two adjacent musical notes M S

tableau C2

/tæˈbloʊ/ a striking, vivid, or dramatic scene M S

orchestrate C2

/ˈɔɹ.kəstˌɹeɪt/ to plan, coordinate, and direct the parts of a complex event or operation so they produce a desired result M S

statuette C2

/ˌstætjuˈɛt/ a small statue or sculpted figure, especially one made as an ornament, study, or collectible M S

minuet C2

/ˌmɪn.juˈɛt/ a slow, formal dance in triple time that was fashionable in European courts during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries M S

pirouette C2

/ˌpɪrəˈwɛt/ a rapid complete turn of the body on one foot or on the toes, especially in ballet M S

diminutive C2

/dəˈmən.jə.təv/ very small M S

harmonium C2

/hɑːrˈmoʊ.ni.əm/ a small keyboard instrument whose free reeds are sounded by air supplied through bellows M S

mangle C2

/ˈmæŋ.ɡ(ə)l/ To damage something badly by crushing, tearing, or twisting it. M S

cancan C2

/ˈkænˌkæn/ a lively French stage dance performed with high kicks, traditionally by a chorus line M S

languish C2

/ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪʃ/ become feeble M S

dilate C2

/daɪˈleɪt/ become wider M S

etching C2

/ˈɛt͡ʃ.ɪŋ/ The art of cutting a design into a metal plate with acid so prints can be made from it. M S

inimitable C2

/ɪnˈɪmɪtəbl̩/ Beyond imitation, surpassing all others; matchless. M S

concertina C2

/ˌkɑːnsərˈtiːnə/ a small free-reed musical instrument with bellows between two end boards, played by pressing buttons while expanding and compressing it M S

gamut C2

/ˈɡæm.ət/ A (normally) complete range. M S

dichotomy C2

/daɪˈkɑtəmi/ The division of a class into two disjoint subclasses that are together comprehensive, as the division of human into female and male. M S

nocturne C2

/ˈnɑːk.tɝːn/ a gentle, lyrical, or dreamlike musical composition suggestive of night, especially one for solo piano M S

harmonics C2

/hɑɹˈmɑnɪks/ the study of musical sounds, harmony, and their acoustic relationships M S

arabesque C2

/ˌær.əˈbɛsk/ an intricate decorative design of interlacing lines, scrolling foliage, or geometric forms, especially in Islamic and Renaissance art M S

perpetrate C2

/ˈpɜː(ɹ).pəˌtɹeɪt/ perform an act, usually with a negative connotation M S

exacerbate C2

/ɪɡˈzæsɚˌbeɪt/ To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.). M S

idyll C2

/ˈaɪ.dəl/ a simple poem or prose work portraying pastoral life or a peaceful, contented scene M S

jejune C2

/d͡ʒəˈdʒuːn/ lacking in nutritive value M S

modulate C2

/ˈmɑ.d͡ʒəˌleɪt/ change the key of, in music M S

zither C2

/ˈzɪ.ðɚ/ a stringed instrument with many strings stretched across a flat, usually horizontal soundbox and played by plucking or strumming M S

virtuosity C2

/ˌvɜː(ɹ)tjuˈɒsɪti/ Outstanding technical skill, especially in music or art. M S

lilt C2

/lɪlt/ a jaunty rhythm in music M S

chassé C2

/ʃæˈseɪ/ a gliding dance step in which one foot moves to the side and the other closes to it M S

martinet C2

/ˈmæɹtɪnɛt/ A strict disciplinarian. M S

cantata C2

/kənˈtɑtə/ a work for one or more singers with instrumental accompaniment, typically arranged in several movements M S

iambic C2

/aɪˈæm.bɪk/ composed of or characterized by iambs, metrical feet in which an unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed one M S

sallow C2

/ˈsæloʊ/ cause to become a sickly pale color M S

satiate C2

/ˈseɪʃɪeɪt/ To fill to satisfaction; to satisfy. M S

meritocracy C2

/mɛɹəˈtɑkɹəsi/ Rule by merit and talent. M S

poseur C2

/poʊˈzʊəɹ/ One who affects some behaviour, style, attitude or other condition, often to impress or influence others. M S

portraiture C2

/ˈpɔː(ɹ)tɹɪtjʊə(ɹ)/ The art or practice of making portraits in painting or photography. M S

fulminate C2

/ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/ come on suddenly and intensely M S

elegy C2

/ˈɛləˌdʒiː/ A mournful or plaintive poem; a funeral song; a poem of lamentation. M S

brushwork C2

/ˈbrʌˌʃwɝːk/ an artist's technique or characteristic manner of applying paint with a brush M S

expiate C2

/ˈɛkspiːˌeɪt/ make amends for M S

typography C2

/taɪˈpɑɡɹəfi/ the craft of composing type and printing from it M S

pianoforte C2

/piˌænoʊˈfɔrteɪ/ the full or historical name for a piano, a keyboard instrument whose hammers strike strings and whose volume varies with the player's touch M S

dross C2

/dɹɔs/ Worthless or trivial matter. M S

tuneless C2

/ˈtuːn.ləs/ lacking a recognizable or pleasing melody; not tuneful M S

dactyl C2

/ˈdæktɪl/ a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables, or one long syllable followed by two short ones M S

waxwork C2

/ˈwæks.wɝːk/ a lifelike figure or effigy modeled in wax M S