Definition: song
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
song
n 1: a short musical composition with words; "a successful
musical must have at least three good songs"
2: a distinctive or characteristic sound; "the song of bullets
was in the air"; "the song of the wind"; "the wheels sang
their song as the train rocketed ahead"
3: the act of singing; "with a shout and a song they marched up
to the gates" [syn: strain]
4: the characteristic sound produced by a bird; "a bird will
not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age"
[syn: birdcall, call, birdsong]
5: a very small sum; "he bought it for a song"
6: the imperial dynasty of China from 960 to 1279; noted for
art and literature and philosophy [syn: Sung, Sung
dynasty, Song, Song dynasty]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Song \Song\ (?; 115), n. [AS. song, sang, fr. singan to sing; akin to D. zang, G. sang, Icel. s["o]ngr, Goeth. sagws. See Sing.] 1. That which is sung or uttered with musical modulations of the voice, whether of a human being or of a bird, insect, etc. ``That most ethereal of all sounds, the song of crickets.'' --Hawthorne. 2. A lyrical poem adapted to vocal music; a ballad. 3. More generally, any poetical strain; a poem. The bard that first adorned our native tongue Tuned to his British lyre this ancient song. --Dryden. 4. Poetical composition; poetry; verse. This subject for heroic song. --Milton. 5. An object of derision; a laughingstock. And now am I their song. yea, I am their byword. --Job xxx. 9. 6. A trifle. ``The soldier's pay is a song.'' --Silliman. Old song, a trifle; nothing of value. ``I do not intend to be thus put off with an old song.'' --Dr. H. More. Song bird (Zo["o]l.), any singing bird; one of the Oscines. Song sparrow (Zo["o]l.), a very common North American sparrow (Melospiza fasciata, or M. melodia) noted for the sweetness of its song in early spring. Its breast is covered with dusky brown streaks which form a blotch in the center. Song thrush (Zo["o]l.), a common European thrush (Turdus musicus), noted for its melodius song; -- called also mavis, throsite, and thrasher. Syn: Sonnet; ballad; canticle; carol; canzonet; ditty; hymn; descant; lay; strain; poesy; verse.
