Dictionary

song en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /sɔŋ/ (Australia, British, Southern, Standard)
• (US) audio cot-caught
• /sɔŋ/ without the cot–caught merger
• /sɑŋ/ (cot-caught-merger)
• [sɔ̟ŋ] (New-Zealand)
• /sɒŋ/ (Canada)
• /sɒŋ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /sɒŋ/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sengʷʰ- Proto-Indo-European *séngʷʰ-e-ti Proto-Germanic *singwaną Proto-Germanic *sangwaz Proto-West Germanic *sangu Old English sang Middle English song English song From Middle English song, sang, from Old English sang, from Proto-West Germanic *sangu, from Proto-Germanic *sangwaz (“singing, song”), from Proto-Indo-European *sengʷʰ- (“to sing”). Cognate with Scots sang, song (“singing, song”), Saterland Frisian Song (“song”), West Frisian sang (“song”), Dutch zang (“song”), Low German sang (“song”), German Sang (“singing, song”), Swedish sång (“song”), Norwegian Bokmål sang (“song”), Norwegian Nynorsk song (“song”), Icelandic söngur (“song”), Ancient Greek ὀμφή (omphḗ, “voice, oracle”). More at sing.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A musical composition with lyrics for voice or voices, performed by singing.
   • In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road. 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page 266:
   • The Harpe. […] A harper with his wreſt maye tune the harpe wrong / Mys tunying of an Inſtrument ſhal hurt a true ſonge 1568, William Cornishe [i.e., William Cornysh], “In the Fleete Made by Me William Cornishe otherwise Called Nyshwhete Chapelman with the Most Famose and Noble Kyng Henry the VII. His Reygne the XIX. Yere the Moneth of July. A Treatise betwene Trouth, and Information.”, in John Skelton, edited by J[ohn] S[tow], Pithy Pleasaunt and Profitable Workes of Maister Skelton, Poete Laureate, Imprinted at London: In Fletestreate, neare vnto Saint Dunstones Churche by Thomas Marshe, →OCLC; republished as Pithy Pleasaunt and Profitable Workes of Maister Skelton, Poete Laureate to King Henry the VIIIth, London: Printed for C. Davis in Pater-noster Row, 1736, →OCLC, page 290:
   • Thomas listened to his favorite song on the radio yesterday.
   • He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights,[…], the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength—all these things seemed to have their part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
2. (broadly, colloquial, countable, uncountable) Any musical composition.
3. (countable, uncountable) Poetical composition; poetry; verse.
   • This subject for heroic song. 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
   • The bard that first adorned our native tongue / Tuned to his British lyre this ancient song. 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
4. (countable, uncountable) The act or art of singing.
   • Or take one that is less of an explanation and more of a song , The Spider . I knew all along what I wanted to say about a spider . I wanted to say all the good things I could . For spiders are the one order of creation that I thoroughly dislike.[…] 1942, Robert Peter Tristram Coffin, The Substance that is Poetry (Patten Foundation series), Macmillan, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 71:
   • How often the enthusiast has dwelt upon the birds bursting into song, the buds bursting into flower, all nature bursting into life!—as though a state of things in which everything around us is bursting is at all pleasant. 1884, Spencer Leigh Hughes, “The Weather. A Short Study on a Great Subject.”, in Golden Hours: A Monthly Magazine for Family and General Reading, volume XVII, London: Lile and Fawcett, […], page 28, column 1:
5. (countable, uncountable) A melodious sound made by a bird, insect, whale or other animal.
   • I love hearing the song of canary birds.
   • The robin alone by his soft morning song broke the silence and the solitude which reigned in the forest. 1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 85:
   • That most ethereal of all sounds, the song of crickets. 1833, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Canterbury Pilgrims:
6. (countable, uncountable) The distinctive sound that a male bird utters to attract a mate or to protect his territory; contrasts with call; also, similar vocalisations made by female birds.
7. (countable, uncountable) A low price, especially one under the expected value; chiefly in for a song.
   • his [a common soldier's] pay is a song. 1810, Benjamin Silliman, A Journal of Travels in England, Holland and Scotland:
   • Thus the red damask curtains which now shut out the fog-laden, drizzling atmosphere of the Marylebone Road, had cost a mere song, and yet they might have been warranted to last another thirty years. A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor;[…]. 1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter I, in The Lodger, London: Methuen, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0016:
   • He bought that car for a song.
8. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) An object of derision; a laughing stock.
   • And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 30:9:

Forms

Deriveds

presong · runesong · songfest · action song · swan-song · songlike · song man · car crash song · fight song · song sparrow · songwright · intersong · cover song · songer · coon song · song-craft · buay song · playsong · whalesong · swan song · Song of Solomon · answer song · painsong · illustrated song · singsong · part-song · songword · plain-song · foresong · heartsong · midsong · New Song · sing-song · song of the summer · for a song and dance · songburst · songbook · plainsong · patter song · songy · songlet · songbird · song thrush · songsheet · songmaking · drinking song · theme song · songtext · bird song · work song · art song · Siren song · song-and-dance man · songcraft · songsome · minstrel song · songman · siren song · evensong · song and supper room · insert song · songsmith · undersong · campfire song · plain song · songify · Song of Ascents · bush song · table song · show song · deep song · songless · songworthy · song book · songwriter · songlark · microsong · songful · wedding song · song and dance · song of India · novelty song · radio song · anisong · praise song · world song · wondersong · Song of Songs · pricksong · folk song · on song · protest song · sirensong · torch song · birdsong · songmaker · songvid · songwriting · copy song · love song · songish · vintage song · songfic · subsong · multisong · old song · for a song · Siren's song · diss song · songster · songline · siren's song · part song · songwise · for a song and a dance · signature song · pop song · undern-song · worship song · cradle song

Descendants

song

Relateds

go for a song · canticle

Translations (435)

pdt Leet (music with words) · ia canto (music with words) · ar أُغْنِيَة (music with words) · sv spottstyver (inexpensive deal) · pox pesĕn (music with words) · mr गाणे (music with words) · oc cançon (music with words) · ps ګانه (music with words) · uk пі́сня (music with words) · sv sång (the act or art of singing) · jje 소리 (music with words) · rue пі́сня (music with words) · af lied (music with words) · ja 歌 (music with words) · nb sang (music with words) · sa गीत (music with words) · ha waƙa (music with words) · de Gesang (the act or art of singing) · tt җыр (music with words) · el τραγούδι (sound of another animal) · non sǫngr (music with words) · br kanaouenn (music with words) · vi bài hát (music with words) · hi तराना (music with words) · bo གཞས (music with words) · ar اغنية (music with words) · bni loyembo (music with words) · ln nzémbo (music with words) · fa تَرانِه (music with words) · nl een appel en een ei (inexpensive deal) · yue 歌 (music with words) · fa تَرَانَه (music with words) · ug قوشاق (music with words) · clt hlaa (music with words) · lzz ტრაღოდა (music with words) · kaa qosıq (music with words) · or ଗୀତ (music with words) · cdo 歌 (music with words) · ceb kanta (music with words) · mt għanja (music with words) · kbd уэрэд (music with words) · uk спів (the act or art of singing) · vi ca (music with words) · kpv сьыланкыв (music with words) · ln loyembo (music with words) · rgn canzòn (music with words) · csb piesniô (music with words) · rm canzun (music with words) · nl zang (the act or art of singing) · jje 놀레 (music with words) · ar أُغْنِيَّة (music with words) · ru пе́сенка (music with words) · tly ترانه (music with words) · lb Lidd (music with words) · krc жыр (music with words) · zh 歌 (music with words) · pms canson (music with words) · he שירה (sound of another animal) · uk пі́сенька (music with words) · si ගීතය (music with words) · nl prikkie (inexpensive deal) · gug purahéi (music with words) · mi waiata (music with words) · grc ᾠδή (music with words) · sro cantzoni (music with words) · id tembang (music with words) · ryu 歌 (music with words) · la carmen (music with words) · be сьпе́вы (the act or art of singing) · ko 가곡 (music with words) · fur cjant (music with words) · et laul (music with words) · be спе́вы (the act or art of singing) · vi ca khúc (music with words) · orv пѣснь (music with words) · os зарӕг (music with words) · rsk шпиванка (music with words) · da sang (music with words) · tl kanta (music with words) · lo ເພງ (music with words) · mfe sanson (music with words) · oj nagamon (music with words) · pt cantiga (music with words) · hu ének (sound of another animal) · mhr муро (music with words) · ckb گۆرانی (music with words) · mn дуу (music with words) · ltg dzīsme (music with words) · tk aýdym (music with words) · crh yır (music with words) · rom gili (music with words) · sah ырыа (music with words) · bua дуун (music with words) · ms gita (music with words) · fa سُرود (music with words) · gu સંગીત (music with words) · es canción (musical composition) · pnt τραγωδία (music with words) · es canción (music with words) · kum йыр (music with words) · io kansono (music with words) · ru пе́сня (music with words) · su kawih (music with words) · de Song (music with words) · kix tsúi (music with words) · xh ingoma (music with words) · jv tembang (music with words) · to hiva (music with words) · my တေး (music with words) · iso ole (music with words) · tum sumu (music with words) · lzz ბირაფა (music with words) · bg пе́ене (the act or art of singing) · gd amhran (music with words) · zh 唱兒 /唱儿 (music with words) · tkl pehe (music with words) · mk пе́сна (music with words) · da sang (sound of another animal) · sh пје̏сма (music with words) · fo songur (music with words) · mdf морама (music with words) · fi sävelmä (musical composition) · gd luinneag (music with words) · rif aɣennij (music with words) · mwl cancion (music with words) · maz to̱njo̱ (music with words) · hi गाथ (music with words) · myv моро (music with words) · enm song (music with words) · ug ناخشا (music with words) · qu takiy (musical composition) · ti መዝሙር (music with words) · zh 歌曲 (music with words) · fro chançon (music with words) · enm song (the act or art of singing) · rue співа́нка (music with words) · fa آهَنْگ (music with words) · zh 歌 (music with words) · mfe sante (music with words) · la canor (music with words) · kk ән (music with words) · sa गाथ (music with words) · sv sång (sound of another animal) · tr türkü (music with words) · cu ⱂⱑⱄⱀⱐ (music with words) · bg пе́сен (music with words) · gun mboraei (music with words) · be спеў (the act or art of singing) · alt ыр (music with words) · wa air (musical composition) · nn song (music with words) · rw ururirimbo (music with words) · gv arrane (music with words) · fi laulu (sound of another animal) · ang sang (music with words) · haw mele (music with words) · is söngur (music with words) · ky ыр (music with words) · el τραγούδι (music with words) · rm canzung (music with words) · nog йыр (music with words) · pi gīta (music with words) · se lávlla (music with words) · ab ашәа (music with words) · ml പാട്ട് (music with words) · ccc usma'chachi (music with words) · ro cântare (music with words) · cic taloowa' (music with words) · ltg daine (music with words) · ko 가창 (the act or art of singing) · pro cant (music with words) · wuu 歌 (music with words) · fr chanson (music with words) · sh pȅsmica (music with words) · sd گيِتُ (music with words) · hak 歌 (music with words) · ps سندره (music with words) · ne गीत (music with words) · ext jijeal (music with words) · mnc ᡠᠴᡠᠨ (music with words) · zh 歌唱 (the act or art of singing) · kjh ыр (music with words) · az ifa (the act or art of singing) · cy cân (music with words) · ur گان (music with words) · qu taki (music with words) · am ዜማ (musical composition) · uk співа́ночка (music with words) · cjs сарын (music with words) · lt giesmė (music with words) · de Lied (music with words) · km ចម្រៀង (music with words) · bo གླུ་དབྱངས (music with words) · njo-jgl ken (music with words) · ar أُغْنِيَة (music with words) · lo ເພັງ (music with words) · rif izri (music with words) · as গান (music with words) · be пе́сьня (music with words) · uz qoʻshiq (music with words) · smk kansyon (music with words) · nl nummer (music with words) · st pina (music with words) · ru песнь (music with words) · kw kan (music with words) · hi गाथा (music with words) · th เพลง (music with words) · be спява́нне (the act or art of singing) · yo orin (music with words) · shi urar (music with words) · meu ane (music with words) · za go (music with words) · udm кырӟан (music with words) · de Gesang (music with words) · hu dal (sound of another animal) · sh пе̏смица (music with words) · ro cântec (music with words) · alt кожоҥ (music with words) · ps ترانه (music with words) · kl erinarsuut (music with words) · lad kantiga (music with words) · id lagu (music with words) · om weedduu (music with words) · ru пе́ние (the act or art of singing) · iba lagu (music with words) · wo wóy (music with words) · hi गीत (music with words) · alt сарын (music with words) · got 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌸 (music with words) · es de balde (inexpensive deal) · pt canção (music with words) · tg оҳанг (music with words) · eo kanto (music with words) · kmr stran (music with words) · nl liedje (music with words) · dlg ырыа (music with words) · rm canzùn (music with words) · pt música (music with words) · be сьпява́ньне (the act or art of singing) · rsk писня (music with words) · ps سرود (music with words) · ps ګانا (music with words) · rm chanzun (music with words) · uz oʻlan (music with words) · su tembang (music with words) · am መዝሙር (music with words) · yi פּיעסניע (music with words) · fy liet (music with words) · sh pjȅsma (music with words) · kk жыр (music with words) · kaa jır (music with words) · gu ગાણું (music with words) · mwl moda (music with words) · fi laulaminen (the act or art of singing) · pl pieśń (music with words) · tl awit (music with words) · arc ܙܡܪܐ (music with words) · uga 𐎌𐎗 (music with words) · ur گِیت (music with words) · tg суруд (music with words) · sw wimbo (music with words) · sva ლიღრაალ (music with words) · sma laavloe (music with words) · sk pieseň (music with words) · lt daina (music with words) · bn গান (music with words) · ja 歌唱 (the act or art of singing) · it canzone (music with words) · ta பாடல் (music with words) · ur سُرُود (music with words) · mhr мурымаш (music with words) · ay q'uchu (music with words) · ady орэд (music with words) · uk співа́ння (the act or art of singing) · fo sangur (music with words) · ba йыр (music with words) · be сьпеў (the act or art of singing) · so hees (music with words) · ig abu (music with words) · nrf chant (music with words) · mn ᠳᠠᠭᠤ (music with words) · pt música (musical composition) · sco sang (music with words) · izh laulu (music with words) · cs písnička (music with words) · ce йиш (music with words) · an canta (music with words) · xal дун (music with words) · da sang (the act or art of singing) · be пе́сня (music with words) · ga ceol (music with words) · tg тарона (music with words) · sv låt (music with words) · kn ಗೀತೆ (music with words) · bh गीत (music with words) · pa گاݨا (music with words) · nah cuicatl (music with words) · ga amhrán (music with words) · grc ὕμνος (music with words) · gl cantiga (music with words) · ce илли (music with words) · hil kanta (music with words) · gd òran (music with words) · lad kantika (music with words) · sv visa (music with words) · fi laulu (music with words) · vi ca hát (the act or art of singing) · te చవక (inexpensive deal) · is lag (music with words) · fy sang (music with words) · be пе́сенька (music with words) · hu ének (music with words) · pl piosenka (music with words) · zu iculo (music with words) · fi pilkkahinta (inexpensive deal) · he שִׁיר (music with words) · rup cãntic (music with words) · krc джыр (music with words) · zh 歌兒 /歌儿 (music with words) · ca cançó (music with words) · sh pjȅsmica (music with words) · fr chant (the act or art of singing) · vo kanit (music with words) · ast canción (music with words) · km ចំរៀង (music with words) · cu пѣснь (music with words) · fa آهَنْگ (music with words) · fy ferske (music with words) · te పాట (music with words) · es rola (musical composition) · eo kanzono (music with words) · lmo canzon (music with words) · lv dziesma (music with words) · gl lais (music with words) · cic taloowa' (musical composition) · eu abesti (music with words) · mns-nor э̄рыг (music with words) · hsb pěseń (music with words) · az nəğmə (music with words) · scn canzùna (music with words) · mdf мора (music with words) · enm song (sound of another animal) · kmr kilam (music with words) · ps غنا (music with words) · szl pjosynka (music with words) · gl canción (music with words) · vo lid (music with words) · hy երգ (music with words) · da slik (inexpensive deal) · wa tchanson (music with words) · ta பாட்டு (music with words) · ms lagu (music with words) · sk pesnička (music with words) · sm pese (music with words) · tyv ыр (music with words) · ps تڼ (music with words) · es por poco dinero (inexpensive deal) · ce йир (music with words) · pl śpiew (the act or art of singing) · ur تَرَانَہ (music with words) · ur گانا (music with words) · sl pesem (music with words) · la cantus (music with words) · ovd liek (music with words) · ml ഗാനം (music with words) · xnb cani (music with words) · ja 歌曲 (music with words) · pnt τραγώδιν (music with words) · nrf chanson (music with words) · hi गान (music with words) · fa سُرُود (music with words) · cs píseň (music with words) · chr ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ (music with words) · dv ލަވަ (music with words) · nl lied (sound of another animal) · rw indirimbo (music with words) · pcd canchon (music with words) · uz ashula (music with words) · sh пе̏сма (music with words) · bo གླུ (music with words) · de Singen (the act or art of singing) · ko 가요 (music with words) · sdn cantzoni (music with words) · ko 노래 (music with words) · kk өлең (music with words) · lg oluyimba class 11/12 (music with words) · hi गाना (music with words) · ja 曲 (musical composition) · ceb awit (music with words) · uk співа́нка (music with words) · arc ܙܡܝܪܬܐ (music with words) · cv юрӑ (music with words) · ota شرقی (music with words) · ar غنوة (music with words) · wa tchantaedje (the act or art of singing) · yi ליד (music with words) · sdc cantzoni (music with words) · nl lied (music with words) · af liedjie (music with words) · sv sång (music with words) · sq këngë (music with words) · ka სიმღერა (music with words) · knj b'it (music with words) · crh türkü (music with words) · twf yò'ónemą (music with words) · mel lagu (music with words) · sh пје̏смица (music with words) · ar غِنَاء (the act or art of singing) · ht chante (music with words) · dsb pěseń (music with words) · ur آہَن٘گ (music with words) · hu dal (music with words) · oj nagamowin (music with words) · gu ગીત (music with words) · kjh сарын (music with words) · fur cjançon (music with words) · tr şarkı (music with words) · ota ایر (music with words) · az mahnı (music with words) · koi сьыланкыв (music with words) · nv sin (music with words) · da vise (music with words) · sh pȅsma (music with words) · zh гәр (music with words) · vec canson (music with words) · atv кожонъ (music with words) · my သီချင်း (music with words) · es rola (music with words) · ny nyimbo (music with words) · rhg gana (music with words) · izh laulo (music with words) · pa ਗਾਣਾ (music with words) · pua pirekua (music with words) · hrx Lied (music with words) · got 𐍃𐌰𐌲𐌲𐍅𐍃 (music with words)