sym·pho·ny
 symphony
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- pronunciation:
- sIm
f
ni
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
symphonies |
| definition 1: |
A symphony is a type of musical piece that is written for a full orchestra to play. A symphony is a fairly long piece of music and is divided into three or four musical parts. You usually hear a lot of violins when you listen to a symphony. A conductor guides the orchestra when it is playing a symphony.
Some parts of a symphony are quite slow and other parts are fast. Some parts can be soft and gentle, and other parts can be loud and powerful. |
| definition 2: |
An orchestra that generally plays symphonies is often called a "symphony."
The Boston Symphony has a new conductor this year. |
| related words: |
orchestra |
Symphony comes from an ancient Greek word that means "a sounding together."