melisma

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Her mastery of melisma, the fluttering strings of notes that decorate songs like

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Definitions (5)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun A passage of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in Gregorian chant.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (3)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (21)

  • His song "Mid-Life" undulates with frenetic, snapping saxophones, distorted psychedelic guitar work, the captivating Indian vocal melisma of Kiran Ahluwalia, and a bluesy melody line recalling Santana or Frank Zappa. —  Broward-Palm Beach New Times | Complete Issue
  • The hairless armpits and pecs; the gym-toned six-packs diving into low-rise jeans; the highly polished smiles; the high notes bursting with melisma: All are reminders that this time around, the hippies are being played by ambitious actors and singers, some of whom are wearing shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen wigs.
  • But that song is like melisma throwing up a pound of Splenda into the face of schmaltz. —  Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch
  • She also added intricate melisma to "Many a Tear Has To Fall," making something new of a hit sung by Barry Manilow, the Four Tops and many others, which started out as a classical tune, —  Berks county news
  • The track's beat is stolen wholesale from Justin Timberlake's 'My Love' and any number of other Timbaland joints, while Ne-Yo's singing is filled, like Chris Brown's, with grating melisma. —  Westword | Complete Issue
 

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Greek, melody, from melizein, to sing, from melos, song.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. New Latin (later Italian), from Greek μέλισμα, a song, from μελίζειν, sing, warble, from μέλος, song.
 

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/məˈlɪsmə/
by American Heritage

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