song

Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Song

also Sung (so͝ong)

A Chinese dynasty (960-1279). Its rule was marked by economic prosperity, technological innovation, and a flourishing of art and culture.

[Mandarin Sòng, named by its founder Zhao Kuangyin after Sòng, the medieval prefecture where the title of emperor was conferred upon him and where his army was located at the time (roughly the region around modern Shangqiu in Henan province), from Middle Chinese səwŋ`.]

song

(sông, sŏng)

1. Music

a. A brief composition written or adapted for singing.

b. The act or art of singing: broke into song.

2. A distinctive or characteristic sound made by an animal, such as a bird or an insect.

a. Poetry; verse.

b. A lyric poem or ballad.

Idiom:

for a song Informal

At a low price: bought the antique tray for a song.

[Middle English, from Old English sang; see seng^wh- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

song

(sɒŋ)

1. (Music, other)

a. a piece of music, usually employing a verbal text, composed for the voice, esp one intended for performance by a soloist

b. the whole repertory of such pieces

c. (as modifier): a song book.

2. (Poetry) poetical composition; poetry

3. (Zoology) the characteristic tuneful call or sound made by certain birds or insects

4. (Music, other) the act or process of singing: they raised their voices in song.

5. (Commerce) for a song at a bargain price

6. on song informal Brit performing at peak efficiency or ability

[Old English sang; related to Gothic saggws, Old High German sang; see sing]

ˈsongˌlike adj

Song

(sʊŋ)

(Biography) the Pinyin transliteration of the Chinese name for Sung

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

song

(sɔŋ, sɒŋ)

n.

1. a short metrical composition intended or adapted for singing, esp. one in rhymed stanzas.

2. poetical composition; poetry.

3. the art or act of singing; vocal music.

4. something that is sung.

5. a patterned, sometimes elaborate vocal signal produced by an animal, as the distinctive sounds of male birds, frogs, etc., during the mating season.

Idioms:

for a song, at a very low price: I bought the rug for a song.

[before 900; Middle English song, sang, Old English, c. Old Saxon, Old High German sang, Old Norse sǫngr, Gothic saggws]

song′like`, adj.

Song

(sɔŋ)

n.

Sung.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	song - a short musical composition with words; "a successful musical must have at least three good songs" vocal religious song - religious music for singing musical composition, opus, piece of music, composition, piece - a musical work that has been created; "the composition is written in four movements" anthem - a song of devotion or loyalty (as to a nation or school) aria - an elaborate song for solo voice ballad, lay - a narrative song with a recurrent refrain barcarole, barcarolle - a boating song sung by Venetian gondoliers refrain, chorus - the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers ditty - a short simple song (or the words of a poem intended to be sung) coronach, dirge, requiem, threnody, lament - a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person drinking song - a song celebrating the joys of drinking; sung at drinking parties folk ballad, folk song, folksong - a song that is traditionally sung by the common people of a region and forms part of their culture lied - a German art song of the 19th century for voice and piano love song, love-song - a song about love or expressing love for another person berceuse, cradlesong, lullaby - a quiet song intended to lull a child to sleep lyric, words, language - the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number; "his compositions always started with the lyrics"; "he wrote both words and music"; "the song uses colloquial language" golden oldie, oldie - a song that was formerly popular partsong - a song with two or more voice parts prothalamion, prothalamium - a song in celebration of a marriage roundelay - a song in which a line or phrase is repeated as the refrain banquet song, scolion - a song (sometimes improvised) sung by guests at a banquet serenade - a song characteristically played outside the house of a woman torch song - a popular song concerned with disappointment in love work song - a usually rhythmical song to accompany repetitious work
	2.	song - a distinctive or characteristic sound; "the song of bullets was in the air"; "the song of the wind"; "the wheels sang their song as the train rocketed ahead" sound - the sudden occurrence of an audible event; "the sound awakened them"
	3.	song - the act of singing; "with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates" strain vocal music - music that is vocalized (as contrasted with instrumental music) carol - a joyful song (usually celebrating the birth of Christ) cradlesong, lullaby - the act of singing a quiet song to lull a child to sleep
	4.	song - the characteristic sound produced by a bird; "a bird will not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age" birdcall, birdsong, call animal communication - communication between animals (of the same species) bell-like call - a birdcall that resembles the tone of a bell two-note call - a birdcall having two notes; "the two-note call of the cuckoo"
	5.	song - a very small sum; "he bought it for a song" buy, steal, bargain - an advantageous purchase; "she got a bargain at the auction"; "the stock was a real buy at that price"
	6.	Song - the imperial dynasty of China from 960 to 1279; noted for art and literature and philosophy Song dynasty, Sung, Sung dynasty dynasty - a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family

song

noun

1. ballad, air, tune, lay, strain, carol, lyric, chant, chorus, melody, anthem, number, hymn, psalm, shanty, pop song, ditty, canticle, canzonet a voice singing a Spanish song

2. birdsong, call, warbling, chirp, chirping, warble, twitter, twittering, cheep, chirrup, chirruping, cheeping It's been a long time since I heard a blackbird's song in the evening.

on song on form, fit, in good shape, in good condition, toned up, in good trim When he is on song he is a world beater.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

أغْنِيَهأُغْنِيَّةتَغْريدغِناء

píseňzpěv

sangslikvisefuglesang

kanto

laulu

pjesma

dalénekmadárének

söngurfuglasöngurlag

canzone canto inno per quattro soldi

歌

노래

carmen

dainadainų autoriuspaukštis giesmininkas

čiepstēšanadziedāšanadziesmadziesmiņatreļļi

liedje nummerprikkielied

sang vise fuglekvitter

piosenka

canção

cântec

песня песнь

pieseň

pesempetje

sångvisa

เพลง

şarkı şarkı söylemeötüş

گانا

bài hát

歌曲鸟语歌歌唱

song

[sɒŋ]

A. N

1. (= ballad etc) → canción f
to sing a song → cantar una canción
give us a song! → ¡cántanos algo!
festival of Spanish song → festival m de la canción española
to burst into song → romper a cantar
to make a song and dance about sth → hacer aspavientos por algo
there's no need to make a song and dance about it → no es para tanto
I got it for a song → lo compré regalado
to be on song (Brit) [footballer etc] → estar entonado, estar inspirado
to sing another song → bajar el tono, desdecirse

2. [of birds] → canto m

B. CPD song and dance routine N → número m de canción y baile
song book N → cancionero m
song cycle N → ciclo m de canciones
song hit N → canción f de moda, canción f popular del momento
Song of Solomon, Song of Songs N → Cantar m de los Cantares
song thrush N → tordo m cantor, tordo m melodioso

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

song

[ˈsɒŋ] n

(= words and music) → chanson f
a love song → une chanson d'amour
to sing a song → chanter une chanson
to buy sth for a song (= very cheaply) → acheter qch une bouchée de pain
to make a song and dance about sth (British) (= fuss) → faire tout un plat de qch

(= songs) (as genre) → chanson f
the history of American popular song → l'histoire de la chanson populaire américaine

(= singing) → chant m
to break into song, to burst into song → se mettre à chanter

[bird] → chant m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

song

→ Lied nt; (= modern folk song, blues song) → Song m; give us a song! → sing uns etwas vor!; one of Brecht’s songs → ein Brecht-Song m; to burst into song → ein Lied anstimmen; song-and-dance act → Gesangs- und Tanznummer f; Song of Songs, Song of Solomon → Lied nt → der Lieder, Hohelied nt → Salomos

(= singing, bird song) → Gesang m

(Brit fig inf) to make a song and dance about something → eine Haupt- und Staatsaktion aus etw machen (inf); that’s nothing to make a song (and dance) about → darauf brauchst du dir/braucht er sich etc nichts einzubilden; to be on song (Brit) → in Hochform sein; to sell/buy something for a song → etw für einen Apfel und ein Ei or für ein Butterbrot verkaufen/kaufen; it was going for a song → das gab es für einen Apfel und ein Ei

song

songbird

n → Singvogel m

songbook

n → Liederbuch nt

song cycle

n → Liederzyklus m

songless

adj bird → nicht singend attr

song sheet

n → Liedblatt nt, → Liederzettel m

songsmith

n (liter) → Texter(in) m(f)

song

song thrush

n → Singdrossel f

songwriter

n → Texter(in) m(f) → und Komponist(in) m(f); (of modern ballads) → Liedermacher(in) m(f)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

song

[sɒŋ] n (ballad) → canzone f; (of birds) → canto
give us a song! → cantaci una canzone!
to burst into song → mettersi a cantare
to make a great song and dance about sth (fig) → fare un sacco di storie per qc
I got it for a song (fig) → l'ho avuto per quattro soldi

song

(soŋ) noun

1. something (to be) sung. He wrote this song for his wife to sing.

2. singing. He burst into song.

3. the sound(s) made by a bird. birdsong.

ˈsongbird noun

any of the types of bird which have a pleasant song.

ˈsongwriter noun

a person who writes songs (usually pop songs) for a living.

song

→ أُغْنِيَّة píseň sang Lied τραγούδι canción laulu chanson pjesma canzone 歌 노래 liedje sang piosenka canção песня sång เพลง şarkı bài hát 歌曲

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

"And the Bug sang another song about men like Split-Nose, who wanted to go back, and live in trees.

View in context

I do bethink me, Will, that thou didst use to have a pretty voice, and one that tuned sweetly upon a song. Prythee, give us one ere we journey farther."

View in context

4-6) Hail, goddess, queen of well-built Salamis and sea-girt Cyprus; grant me a cheerful song. And now I will remember you and another song also.

View in context

- HOW HARRIS SINGS A COMIC SONG. - A HIGH-CLASS PARTY.

View in context

The song of pleasant stations beside the salt lagoons, The song of blowing squadrons that shuffled down the dunes, The song of midnight dances that churned the sea to flame-- The Beaches of Lukannon--before the sealers came!

View in context

By 'language embellished,' I mean language into which rhythm, 'harmony,' and song enter.

View in context

A person appeared to him then in a dream and, calling him by name, said, 'Caedmon, sing some song to me.'

View in context

Yes, the conscience is clear and the song is clear, and so these little streams flow on, shining in the clear dawn of a golden past to which all poets and philosophers to come will turn with wistful eyes.

View in context

"Give me a red rose," she cried, "and I will sing you my sweetest song."

View in context

So it was, more by tone and emphasis and context of situation than by anything else, that Jerry came hazily to identify himself with names such as: Dog, Mister Dog, Adventurer, Strong Useful One, Sing Song Silly, Noname, and Quivering Love-Heart.

View in context

Dancing to song, is a thing of great state and pleasure.

View in context

That Hermann should have gone to that place at all, was not wise; that he should have gone with such a song as that in his mouth was a most serious mistake.