serenade

C2 Topic:People & Society

US /ˌsɛrəˈneɪd/ UK /ˌsɛrəˈneɪd/ See IPA manual

Freq #22767

Meanings

1

noun
a song or musical performance given for someone, traditionally outdoors in the evening as an expression of love

He played a quiet serenade beneath her balcony.
2

verb
to sing or play music for someone, or to fill a place with song

Birds serenade the village at dawn each spring.
3

noun
a light instrumental composition, often in several movements and originally intended for evening performance

The chamber group performed a serenade for strings.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a song or musical... love songromantic song

2 verb · to sing or play music for... sing toperform for

3 noun · a light instrumental... serenatadivertimento

Word family

Forms serenaded

Derived forms serenaderunserenaded

Related forms serenataevening songnocturne

Simplified etymology

Serenade came through French and Italian from Latin serenus, meaning “calm, clear, or fair.” Its association with nighttime performance may have arisen through association with Italian sera, meaning “night.”

Etymology

Borrowed through French serenade from Italian serenata, an evening song or performance, based on sereno, 'calm or clear,' from Latin serenus. The word broadened from outdoor courtship music to instrumental compositions and the verb meaning to perform for someone.

Topics

People & Society

External links

# serenade

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˌsɛrəˈneɪd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌsɛrəˈneɪd/
**Frequency rank:** 22767

## Meanings
1. a song or musical performance given for someone, traditionally outdoors in the evening as an expression of love
2. to sing or play music for someone, or to fill a place with song
3. a light instrumental composition, often in several movements and originally intended for evening performance

## Examples
- He played a quiet serenade beneath her balcony.
- Birds serenade the village at dawn each spring.
- The chamber group performed a serenade for strings.

## Synonyms
- love song
- romantic song
- serenata
- divertimento

## Derived Forms
- serenader
- unserenaded

## Related Forms
- serenata
- evening song
- nocturne

## Etymology
Borrowed through French serenade from Italian serenata, an evening song or performance, based on sereno, 'calm or clear,' from Latin serenus. The word broadened from outdoor courtship music to instrumental compositions and the verb meaning to perform for someone.

## Topics
- People & Society

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