symphony

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Music An extended piece in three or more movements for symphony orchestra.
2. n. Music An instrumental passage in a vocal or choral composition.
3. n. Music An instrumental overture or interlude, as in early opera.
4. n. Music A symphony orchestra.
5. n. Music An orchestral concert.
6. n. Harmony, especially of sound or color.
7. n. Something characterized by a harmonious combination of elements.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A consonance or harmony of sounds agreeable to the ear, whether the sounds are vocal or instrumental, or both.
2. n. In music: Same as symphonia, 2.
3. n. Same as ritornelle.
4. n. An elaborate composition in three or more movements, essentially similar in construction to a sonata, but written for an orchestra, and usually of far grander proportions and more varied elements. The symphony is now recognized as the highest kind of instrumental music. It was brought to its classical form mainly by Haydn in the last part of the eighteenth century, and has since been extensively developed by Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and others.

Wiktionary

1. n. an extended piece of music of sophisticated structure, usually for orchestra
2. n. harmony in music or colour, or a harmonious combination of elements

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A consonance or harmony of sounds, agreeable to the ear, whether the sounds are vocal or instrumental, or both.
2. n. A stringed instrument formerly in use, somewhat resembling the virginal.
3. n. An elaborate instrumental composition for a full orchestra, consisting usually, like the sonata, of three or four contrasted yet inwardly related movements, as the allegro, the adagio, the minuet and trio, or scherzo, and the finale in quick time. The term has recently been applied to large orchestral works in freer form, with arguments or programmes to explain their meaning, such as the “symphonic poems” of Liszt. The term was formerly applied to any composition for an orchestra, as overtures, etc., and still earlier, to certain compositions partly vocal, partly instrumental.
4. n. An instrumental passage at the beginning or end, or in the course of, a vocal composition; a prelude, interlude, or postude; a ritornello.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a large orchestra; can perform symphonies
2. n. a long and complex sonata for symphony orchestra