Meanings
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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.
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2
verb
to sing or play music for someone, or to fill a place with song
Birds serenade the village at dawn each spring.
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3
noun
a light instrumental composition, often in several movements and originally intended for evening performance
The chamber group performed a serenade for strings.
Thesaurus
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.