symphony

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: sym=pho=ny

CIDE DICTIONARY

symphony, n. [F. symphonie (cf. It. sinfonia), L. symphonia, Gr. ; sy`n with + a sound, the voice. See Phonetic.].

•  A consonance or harmony of sounds, agreeable to the ear, whether the sounds are vocal or instrumental, or both.  [1913 Webster]

  "The trumpets sound,
  And warlike symphony in heard around."  [1913 Webster]
•  A stringed instrument formerly in use, somewhat resembling the virginal.  [1913 Webster]

  "With harp and pipe and symphony."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

symphony, n. (pl. -ies)
1 an elaborate composition usu. for full orchestra, and in several movements with one or more in sonata form.
2 an interlude for orchestra alone in a large-scale vocal work.
3 = symphony orchestra.

Idiom

symphony orchestra a large orchestra suitable for playing symphonies etc.

Etymology

ME, = harmony of sound, f. OF symphonie f. L symphonia f. Gk sumphonia (as SYN-, - phonos f. phone sound)

THESAURUS

symphony

German band, Philharmonic, accord, accordance, affinity, agape, agreement, amity, attune, attunement, band, big band, bonds of harmony, brass, brass band, brass choir, brass quintet, brass section, brasses, brotherly love, callithumpian band, caritas, cement of friendship, chamber orchestra, charity, chime, chiming, classic, classical music, combo, communion, community, community of interests, compatibility, concentus, concert, concert band, concert music, concertino, concerto, concerto grosso, concord, concordance, congeniality, consonance, consonancy, consort, correspondence, desks, diapason, dixieland band, empathy, ensemble, esprit, esprit de corps, euphony, feeling of identity, fellow feeling, fellowship, frictionlessness, gamelan orchestra, good vibes, good vibrations, group, happy family, harmonics, harmony, heavy harmony, homophony, identity, jazz band, jug band, kinship, like-mindedness, longhair music, love, military band, monochord, monody, mutuality, oneness, orchestra, peace, philharmonic, quartet, quintet, ragtime band, rapport, rapprochement, reciprocity, rhapsody, rock-and-roll group, semiclassical music, sextet, sharing, sinfonietta, skiffle band, solidarity, steel band, street band, string band, string choir, string orchestra, string quartet, strings, swing band, sympathy, symphonia, symphonic music, symphonic ode, symphony orchestra, synchronism, synchronization, team spirit, three-part harmony, tone poem, trio, tune, understanding, union, unison, unisonance, unity, waits, woodwind, woodwind choir, woodwind quartet, woodwinds

ROGET THESAURUS

symphony

Precursor

N precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor, forerunner, vancourier, avant-coureur, pioneer, prodrome, prodromos, prodromus, outrider, leader, bellwether, herald, harbinger, foreboding, dawn, avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare, forelooper, foreloper, stalking-horse, voorlooper, voortrekker, prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos, protasis, proemium, prolusion, proem, prolepsis, prolegomena, prefix, introduction, heading, frontispiece, groundwork, preparation, overture, exordium, symphony, premises, prefigurement, omen, precursory, prelusive, prelusory, preludious, proemial, introductory, prefatory, prodromous, inaugural, preliminary, precedent, a precedent embalms a principle.

Concord

N concord, accord, harmony, symphony, homologue, agreement, sympathy, empathy, response, union, unison, unity, bonds of harmony, peace, unanimity, league, happy family, rapprochement, reunion, amity, alliance, entente cordiale, good understanding, conciliation, peacemaker, intercessor, mediator, concordant, congenial, agreeing, in accord, harmonious, united, cemented, banded together, allied, friendly, fraternal, conciliatory, at one with, of one mind, at peace, in still water, tranquil, with one voice, in concert with, hand in hand, on one's side, commune periculum concordiam parit, melody concord, melody, rhythm, measure, rhyme, pitch, timbre, intonation, tone, scale, gamut, diapason, diatonic chromatic scale, enharmonic scale, key, clef, chords, modulation, temperament, syncope, syncopation, preparation, suspension, resolution, staff, stave, line, space, brace, bar, rest, appoggiato, appoggiatura, acciaccatura, note, musical note, notes of a scale, sharp, flat, natural, high note, low note, interval, semitone, second, third, fourth, diatessaron, breve, semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, demisemiquaver, hemidemisemiquaver, sustained note, drone, burden, tonic, key note, leading note, fundamental note, supertonic, mediant, dominant, submediant, subdominant, octave, tetrachord, major key, minor key, major scale, minor scale, major mode, minor mode, passage, phrase, concord, harmony, emmeleia, unison, unisonance, chime, homophony, euphony, euphonism, tonality, consonance, consent, part, harmony, harmonics, thorough-bass, fundamental-bass, counterpoint, faburden, piece of music, composer, harmonist, contrapuntist (musician), harmonious, harmonical, in concord, in tune, in concert, unisonant, concentual, symphonizing, isotonic, homophonous, assonant, ariose, consonant, measured, rhythmical, diatonic, chromatic, enharmonic, melodious, musical, melic, tuneful, tunable, sweet, dulcet, canorous, mellow, mellifluous, soft, clear, clear as a bell, silvery, euphonious, euphonic, euphonical, symphonious, enchanting fine-toned, full-toned, silver-toned, harmoniously, in harmony, as one, the hidden soul of harmony.

Music

N music, concert, strain, tune, air, melody, aria, arietta, piece of music, work, number, opus, sonata, rondo, rondeau, pastorale, cavatina, roulade, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza, cadence, fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno, dithyramb, opera, operetta, oratorio, composition, movement, stave, passamezzo, toccata, Vorspiel, instrumental music, full score, minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra, concerted piece, potpourri, capriccio, vocal music, vocalism, chaunt, chant, psalm, psalmody, hymn, song, canticle, canzonet, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo, solfeggio, Lydian measures, slow music, slow movement, adagio, minuet, siren strains, soft music, lullaby, dump, dirge, pibroch, martial music, march, dance music, waltz, solo, duet, duo, trio, quartet, quartett, septett, part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale, antiphon, antiphony, accompaniment, second, bass, score, bourdon, drone, morceau, terzetto, composer, musician, musical, instrumental, vocal, choral, lyric, operatic, harmonious, Wagnerian, adagio, largo, larghetto, andante, andantino, alla capella, maestoso, moderato, allegro, allegretto, spiritoso, vivace, veloce, presto, prestissimo, con brio, capriccioso, scherzo, scherzando, legato, staccato, crescendo, diminuendo, rallentando, affettuoso, obbligato, pizzicato, desto, in notes by distance made more sweet, like the faint exquisite music of a dream, music arose with its voluptuous swell, music is the universal language of mankind, music's golden tongue, the speech of angels, will sing the savageness out of a bear, music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.