music

n. [ F. musique, fr. L. musica, Gr. &unr_; (sc. &unr_;), any art over which the Muses presided, especially music, lyric poetry set and sung to music, fr. &unr_; belonging to Muses or fine arts, fr. &unr_; Muse. ] 1. The science and the art of tones, or musical sounds, i. e., sounds of higher or lower pitch, begotten of uniform and synchronous vibrations, as of a string at various degrees of tension; the science of harmonical tones which treats of the principles of harmony, or the properties, dependences, and relations of tones to each other; the art of combining tones in a manner to please the ear. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Not all sounds are tones. Sounds may be unmusical and yet please the ear. Music deals with tones, and with no other sounds. See Tone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (a) Melody; a rhythmical and otherwise agreeable succession of tones. (b) Harmony; an accordant combination of simultaneous tones. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The written and printed notation of a musical composition; the score. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Love of music; capacity of enjoying music. [ 1913 Webster ]

The man that hath no music in himself
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) A more or less musical sound made by many of the lower animals. See Stridulation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Magic music, a game in which a person is guided in finding a hidden article, or in doing a specific act required, by music which is made more loud or rapid as he approaches success, and slower as he recedes. It is similar to the game of hot and cold, but using music as the clue. Tennyson. --
Music box. See Musical box, under Musical. --
Music hall, a place for public musical entertainments. --
Music loft, a gallery for musicians, as in a dancing room or a church. --
Music of the spheres, the harmony supposed to be produced by the accordant movement of the celestial spheres. --
Music paper, paper ruled with the musical staff, for the use of composers and copyists. --
Music pen, a pen for ruling at one time the five lines of the musical staff. --
Music shell (Zool.), a handsomely colored marine gastropod shell (Voluta musica) found in the East Indies; -- so called because the color markings often resemble printed music. Sometimes applied to other shells similarly marked. --
To face the music, to meet any disagreeable necessity, such as a reprimand for an error or misdeed, without flinching. [ Colloq. or Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]