musical
mu·sic·al [musical musicals] adjective, noun BrE [ˈmjuːzɪkl] NAmE [ˈmjuːzɪkl]
adjective
1. only before noun connected with music; containing music
•the musical director of the show
•musical talent/ability/skill
•musical styles/tastes
•a musical production/entertainment
2. (of a person)with a natural skill or interest in music
• She's very musical.
Opp: ↑unmusical
3. (of a sound)pleasant to listen to, like music
•a musical voice
Opp: ↑unmusical
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin musicalis, from Latin musica, from Greek mousikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of the Muses’, from mousa ‘muse’.
Example Bank:
•She had a low, musical voice that thrilled him to hear.
•musical instruments
noun (also old-fashioned ˌmusical ˈcomedy)
a play or a film/movie in which part or all of the story is told using songs and often dancing
•a Broadway/Hollywood musical
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin musicalis, from Latin musica, from Greek mousikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of the Muses’, from mousa ‘muse’.
Culture:
Musicals started to develop in the early 20th century, combining features of comic opera and the British ↑music hall tradition. The modern ↑Broadway musical began with Show Boat, and others have included ↑Oklahoma!, ↑My Fair Lady, ↑West Side Story, Hair and ↑Sunset Boulevard. Most later became films. Musicals written originally as films include ↑Singin' in the Rain, Gigi (1958) and The Producers (2001), which is about the making of a Broadway musical. US writers of musicals have included Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein and ↑Lerner and Loewe. The best-known British composer of musicals is Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose work includes ↑Jesus Christ Superstar and ↑Cats.
Example Bank:
•a musical based on the biblical story of Job
•a musical based on the life of Eva Perón
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