Mel"o*dy (?), n.; pl.
Melodies (#). [OE. melodie, F.
mélodie, L. melodia, fr. Gr. ? a singing,
choral song, fr. ? musical, melodious; me`los song, tune
+ ? song. See Ode.]
1. A sweet or agreeable succession of
sounds.
Lulled with sound of sweetest
melody.
Shak.
2. (Mus.) A rhythmical succession of
single tones, ranging for the most part within a given key, and so
related together as to form a musical whole, having the unity of what
is technically called a musical thought, at once pleasing to the ear
and characteristic in expression.
☞ Melody consists in a succession of single tones;
harmony is a consonance or agreement of tones, also a
succession of consonant musical combinations or chords.
3. The air or tune of a musical
piece.
Syn. -- See Harmony.