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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