symphony

A2 Topic:Music Theory

US /ˈsɪm.fə.ni/ See IPA manual

Freq #10553

Meanings

1

noun
A long piece of music in several parts, usually written for a full orchestra.

We listened to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
2

noun
A large orchestra that plays such music.

She plays the violin in the city symphony.
3

noun
A beautiful, harmonious combination of different things.

The garden was a symphony of color in spring.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a long piece of music in... symphonic music

2 noun · a large orchestra that... philharmonic

Word family

Forms symphonies

Derived forms symphonist

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

symphony orchestra
a large orchestra equipped to perform symphonies and similar works

Noun + noun

Simplified etymology

Symphony was used in Middle English with the sense “harmonious sound.” Its history involves Greek phōnē, “sound,” the same element found in cacophony and other sound-related words.

Etymology

From Middle English symphonye, from Old French simphonie, from Latin symphonia, from Ancient Greek συμφωνία (sumphōnía). By surface analysis, sym- + -phony. Doublet of sinfonia, symphonia, tsampouna, and zampogna.

symphonye Middle English simphonie Old French symphonia Latin συμφωνία Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Music Theory Art & Music

External links

# symphony

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɪm.fə.ni/
**Frequency rank:** 10553

## Meanings
1. A long piece of music in several parts, usually written for a full orchestra.
2. A large orchestra that plays such music.
3. A beautiful, harmonious combination of different things.

## Examples
- We listened to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
- She plays the violin in the city symphony.
- The garden was a symphony of color in spring.

## Derived Forms
- symphonist

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: symphonye
- Root: simphonie
- Root: symphonia
- Root: συμφωνία
- Affix: sym- - with

## Etymology
From Middle English symphonye, from Old French simphonie, from Latin symphonia, from Ancient Greek συμφωνία (sumphōnía). By surface analysis, sym- + -phony. Doublet of sinfonia, symphonia, tsampouna, and zampogna.

## AI Etymology
Symphony is from Middle English symphonye, from Old French simphonie, from Latin symphonia, from Ancient Greek συμφωνία (sumphōnía). By surface analysis, sym- + -phony. Doublet of sinfonia, symphonia, tsampouna, and zampogna. In present-day use, it can mean a long piece of music in several parts, usually written for a full orchestra, or a large orchestra that plays such music.

## Topics
- Music Theory
- Art & Music

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