songsong /sɒŋ $ sɒːŋ/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 
We used to listen to pop songs on the radio. They sat round with guitars, singing songs. b)[uncountable] songs in general: The bravery of past warriors was celebrated in song.2birds [countable, uncountable] the musical sounds made by birds and some other animals such as whales: the song of the lark3for a song very cheaply: He bought the house for a song five years ago.4a song and dance (about something) informal a)British English if you make a song and dance about something, you behave as if it was worse, more important, more difficult etc than it really is: Suzy was there, making a song and dance about her aching feet. b)American English an explanation or excuse that is too long and complicated: She gave us a long song and dance about why she was late. → swansongCOLLOCATIONSverbssing a song· He started singing a little song.play a song (=with singing and musical instruments)· The band played a lot of their old songs.perform a song (=in public)· He doesn’t like performing his songs live.write/compose a song· Do they write their own songs?record a song (=onto a CD so that it can be sold)· The song was first recorded in 1982.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + songgood/great· That’s a great song!new· Are any of the songs on the album new?old· People always want to hear their old songs.a pop/folk song· I love all those '60s pop songs.a popular song (=used mainly of songs written before the 1960s)· a popular song from the 1930sa love song· He is releasing an album of love songs for Valentine’s Day.a protest song· They were singing old protest songs from the 1960s.a Beatles/REM etc song· Can you play any Beatles songs?phrasesburst/break into song (=start singing)· The crowd spontaneously burst into song.THESAURUSsong a short piece of music with words that you sing: · We sang songs around the campfire.· The song was written by John Lennon.track one of the songs on a CD or record: · Track three is my favourite one.number a song that forms part of a performance of several songs: · The show was brilliant, from the opening number to the end.tune the notes in a song, without the words: · I recognize the tune, but I can’t remember what it’s called.melody the main series of notes in a piece of music that has several parts which are played together: · The song has a simple melody and beautiful lyrics.verse a set of sentences that make up one part of a song: · She sang the first verse of ‘Amazing Grace’.chorus a set of sentences in a song that is repeated after each verse: · Most of the kids were able to join in the chorus.types of songnational anthem the official song of a country, which is sung or played on public occasions: · Before the match, everyone stood up to sing the national anthem.hymn /hɪm/ a religious song that is sung in a church: · What hymns did you choose for your wedding?· At funerals people often sing the hymn ‘Abide with Me’.carol a traditional Christmas song: · We went around the houses, singing carols.folk song a traditional song from a particular area: · an old Mexican folk songballad a long folk song which tells a story: · a traditional ballad about a man who is dreaming of his home in Irelandlullaby a slow quiet song sung to children to make them go to sleep: · She sat by the child’s bed, softly singing a lullaby.
WORD ORIGINsong
Origin:
Old English sangEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a recording of the swallow's song
- In the evenings we'd sit around the campfire and sing songs.
- That's a pretty song - where did you learn it?
- The song "Yesterday" is one of the most often recorded songs in the world.
- The story of America's independence has been celebrated in song.
- The students played guitars and sang folk songs.
- Birds are bred by crossing champions, to try to guarantee a high quality of song.
- Linda brought him a book of easy songs.
- Six monologues and a comic song to finish with had the audience roaring with laughter.
- They traded songs and combined voices into old-time Delmore Brothers harmonies.
- To please Sinterklaas the children sing special songs and lay down carrots and other food for his horse.
- Tom turned his eyes from the paper and started singing the song from Don Giovanni that is always called the Champagne Aria.
THESAURUS
a short piece of music with words that you sing: · We sang songs around the campfire.· The song was written by John Lennon.
one of the songs on a CD or record: · Track three is my favourite one.
a song that forms part of a performance of several songs: · The show was brilliant, from the opening number to the end.
the notes in a song, without the words: · I recognize the tune, but I can’t remember what it’s called.
the main series of notes in a piece of music that has several parts which are played together: · The song has a simple melody and beautiful lyrics.
a set of sentences that make up one part of a song: · She sang the first verse of ‘Amazing Grace’.
a set of sentences in a song that is repeated after each verse: · Most of the kids were able to join in the chorus.
types of song the official song of a country, which is sung or played on public occasions: · Before the match, everyone stood up to sing the national anthem.
a religious song that is sung in a church: · What hymns did you choose for your wedding?· At funerals people often sing the hymn ‘Abide with Me’.
a traditional Christmas song: · We went around the houses, singing carols.
a traditional song from a particular area: · an old Mexican folk song
a long folk song which tells a story: · a traditional ballad about a man who is dreaming of his home in Ireland
a slow quiet song sung to children to make them go to sleep: · She sat by the child’s bed, softly singing a lullaby.
Longman Language Activatora piece of music an arrangement of musical notes that has been written by someone - use this about music without words: · The CD contains two pieces performed by the Tokyo String Quartet.· It's difficult to know ahead of time whether an audience will like a new piece of music.
a short piece of music with words for singing: · That's a pretty song - where did you learn it?· The song "Yesterday" is one of the most often recorded songs in the world.· In the evenings we'd sit around the campfire and sing songs.
a piece of music - use this when you are considering the way the music is written: · Stone's composition "Idaho" became a national hit when Benny Goodman recorded it for Columbia.· Zwilich's flute concerto was nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
a piece of music, especially a long classical one - use this in written or formal contexts: · The performance began with two of Mozart's early works.· Handel's "Messiah" is one of the most majestic musical works ever written.
a piece of popular music that forms part of a longer performance: · "The show's not very good." "We can leave after this number if you want."· Nell Carter also appeared and performed a couple of upbeat numbers.
to sing to make musical sounds with your voice, especially the words of a song: · Sophie sings in the church choir.· I could hear someone singing downstairs.sing a song/tune/hymn etc: · They sat together and sang songs.· All the family sang 'Happy Birthday' as Dad came in.sing somebody something: · Come on, David, sing us a song!sing to: · She sat in a corner, singing softly to her baby.sing along (=sing with someone who is already singing): · Sing along if you know the words.sing in tune/out of tune (=sing the right or wrong notes): · Anyone who could play an instrument or sing in tune was enlisted to take part in the concert.
the activity of singing: · I hear Frank's taken up singing again.· Everyone joined in with the singing.· He asked her why she didn't make use of her talent and give singing lessons.singing career: · Danni decided to come to England to launch her singing career.
to sing a song loudly and powerfully: belt out something: · The choir belted out songs from West End shows for over an hour.belt it out: · This is a big theatre - you have to really belt it out.
to suddenly start singing: · He felt so happy he wanted to burst into song.· The orchestra played a few notes and the choir burst into song.
to sing in a very soft, musical way: · A woman gently crooned the tune of a lullaby.· She wandered around the tables, while crooning ''Embraceable You''.
if a member of a band is on vocals , they are singing the song's words: · The band was formed in 1999, with Stevie on vocals.on backing vocals (=singing the background tune, not the main one): · We went to see a band who had Julia Fordham on backing vocals.
WORD SETSauk, nounbald eagle, nounbeak, nounbill, nounbird, nounbirdie, nounbird of paradise, nounbird of passage, nounbird of prey, nounbirdsong, nounblackbird, nounbluebird, nounbluejay, nounbobwhite, nounbreast, nounbuzzard, nouncackle, verbchick, nounclaw, nouncob, nouncock, nouncockerel, nouncockscomb, nouncolouring, nouncondor, nouncoo, verbcoot, nouncormorant, nouncorncrake, nouncrane, nouncrest, nouncrested, adjectivecrop, nouncrow, nouncrow, verbcuckoo, nouncurlew, nouncygnet, noundickybird, noundipper, noundive, verbdodo, noundove, noundown, nounduck, nounduckling, nouneagle, nouneaglet, nounegret, nounemu, nounfeather, nounflamingo, nounfledgling, nounflight, nounfly, verbflycatcher, nounfowl, noungander, noungannet, noungizzard, noungobble, verbgobbler, noungolden eagle, noungoldfinch, noungoose, noungrebe, noungrouse, nounguillemot, nounguinea fowl, nounhackles, nounhatch, verbhawk, nounheron, nounhonk, nounhonk, verbhoot, nounhoot, verbhornbill, nounhouse martin, nounhumming bird, nounincubate, verbjackdaw, nounjay, nounkestrel, nounkingfisher, nounkite, nounkiwi, nounlark, nounlay, verblinnet, nounloon, nounlovebird, nounmacaw, nounmagpie, nounmallard, nounmarabou, nounmartin, nounmeadowlark, nounmigrant, nounmockingbird, nounmoorhen, nounmoult, verbmynah bird, nounnest, nounnest, verbnestling, nounnightingale, nounoriole, nounornithologist, nounornithology, nounosprey, nounostrich, nounowl, nounowlet, nounparakeet, nounparrot, nounpartridge, nounpeacock, nounpeafowl, nounpeahen, nounpeck, verbpeck, nounpeewit, nounpelican, nounpenguin, nounperch, nounperch, verbperegrine falcon, nounpetrel, nounpipit, nounplover, nounplumage, nounplume, verbpullet, nounquail, nounquill, nounraven, nounroadrunner, nounrobin, nounrook, nounroost, nounroost, verbrooster, nounruff, nounsandpiper, nounseabird, nounseagull, nounshag, nounsing, verbskylark, nounsnipe, nounsong, nounsongbird, nounsongster, nounsparrow, nounstarling, nounswallow, nounswan, nounswift, nounswoop, verbtalon, nounteal, nountern, nounthrush, nountit, nountoucan, nountrill, nounturkey, nounturtledove, nountwitter, verbvulture, nounwader, nounwagtail, nounwarble, verbwarbler, nounwater bird, nounwaterfowl, nounwebbed, adjectiveweb-footed, adjectivewhistle, verbwing, nounwinged, adjectivewingspan, nounwingtip, nounwishbone, nounwren, nounyellowhammer, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs Lydia burst into song. a catchy song We had a great time singing some of the old songs.
· He started singing a little song.
(=with singing and musical instruments)· The band played a lot of their old songs.
(=in public)· He doesn’t like performing his songs live.
· Do they write their own songs?
(=onto a CD so that it can be sold)· The song was first recorded in 1982.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + song· That’s a great song!
· Are any of the songs on the album new?
· People always want to hear their old songs.
· I love all those '60s pop songs.
(=used mainly of songs written before the 1960s)· a popular song from the 1930s
· He is releasing an album of love songs for Valentine’s Day.
· They were singing old protest songs from the 1960s.
· Can you play any Beatles songs?
phrases (=start singing)· The crowd spontaneously burst into song.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=musical sounds that birds make)· The forest is full of bird song at all times of the year.
Lydia burst into song. a catchy song (=be able to sing a song, play a tune, say a poem etc because you have learned it) Do you know all the words to ‘As Time Goes By’?
Do you know all the words to ‘As Time Goes By’?· a tragic love story
· He had listened patiently to his client’s sad story about her awful life.
We had a great time singing some of the old songs. (=a voice that goes high and low in a pleasant musical way)· She began to recite the poem in a sing-song voice.
(=sounds made by whales)· Scientists believe that whale song is used to communicate.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Many of her first attempts were little more than workmanlike folk songs.· He came to the university, and we were supposed to sing a folk song in Tagalog.· They embodied the sun in stylized forms in their jewelry and praised it in folk songs and myths.
· Doyle confirms this: Most of the good songs which I heard about came to me that way.· One reason it has faded from memory is that it was eventually overshadowed by a better song created from its chords.· Many observers feel Gedge has already written his best songs, or the most commercial ones at least.· My thing is, write good songs.· He was not a big star at the time and it was just a good song.· Uriah Heep didn't play any of their good songs.· I know as good as the next man what is hip but we decided to forget all that and just concentrate on good songs.· We're not just of this period, we write good songs and there's always a demand for a good song.
· Ratt have some chunky riffs but no great songs.· Someday I want to feel like I have written a great song.· They are, for the most part, great songs.· And how can you go wrong with a great song by Johnny Cash in a movie that takes place in a prison?· Although there has been a great song and dance about his supposedly suspect temperament this season, I can't fault it.· But a hack solo in a great song - it's still a great song.
· They're in the middle of a world tour, playing new and traditional songs.· And these new songs expressed the feelings of a large, appreciative female audience.· The resemblance is so close that a human can easily mistake the new song for the sound of a trimphone.· With these rearrangements, new songs emerged from old.· Often this situation doesn't allow the artist enough time to write good new songs.· In the past nine days, two new songs have been written, according to lyricist Jim Steinman.· From outside the Carter camp it could be seen as evidence that the twosome are having trouble finding new songs.· Most tribute albums feature new performances of songs associated with a band, singer or songwriter.
· But dialogue, however problematic, is preferable to the old songs of hate.· Same old song all day long.· For the most part, it's the same old song.· But, in fact, courses and programs that we could call remedial are older than fight songs and cheerleaders.· The whole crowd later went to a variety show at the Winter Gardens. Old Glasgow songs.· He says that there's an old song ... keep up the fight ... we won't give in.· Just a fantasy based around Pamela, based around her old songs.· He began to play an old song.
· Bird flew high above the simple pop songs upon which they were based, developing new ideas and melodies on the spot.· The Refreshments started playing their easily digestible pop songs in January 1994.
· The great cultural diversion of the country, and the conflicts which this gave rise to, found expression in popular song.· I asked him what kind of songs he knew and he said he knew some popular songs.· One day Modi had made a collage by pasting a verse from a popular song around a painting, in Cubist fashion.· Neuter nouns ending in o take a. He wrote the lyrics of a popular song.· Ybreska laughed, suddenly, the words of a popular Western song breaking on his lips.· As I was standing before the sink,, I heard Edusha singing a recently popular song.· A woman was singing popular songs, and the holidaymakers were drinking and laughing as they ate their steaks.· This is the principal reason that the great voices of opera seldom sing popular songs.
· Forty Niners president Carmen Policy called the lure of free agency a siren song.· The bottom line is that General Motors heeded the siren song of management Centralism in the mid-sixties.· They prepared their siren song for the early-evening crowd.· Daniel Boone heard it: the siren song of the open road, beckoning him to pack up and go.
· They're in the middle of a world tour, playing new and traditional songs.· Joyce's tale, shot through with references to singers and composers, also features traditional songs.· The Doonans' speciality is lacing traditional songs with rock arrangements, or applying folk themes to rock.· It was illegal to speak the language or sing their traditional songs.· The festivities start the previous night, the hypnotic beat of the drum and the traditional song having a very strong effect.· Nothing expresses that better than joining together to sing traditional and patriotic songs.
NOUN· She began to sing the famous love song.· Some songs on this album are love songs.· The remaining tracks are frothy, cliché-ridden love songs.· Nicole Simpson sent him cookies, letters and tapes filled with love songs, he said.· There's only so many love songs you can write.· Would-be lovebirds are unable to hear the love songs sung by other birds.· But these are competent love songs, carried on the strength of the 23-year-old's powerful and seductive vocals.
· The singer was chuffed when her album title track Proud was chosen as Labour's election theme song.· I worked on the theme song with Ziggy Marley.· And you can sing that Morphin Ranger theme song ad nauseum.· Sometimes the cartoon theme song is better than some of the episodes themselves.
VERB· From time to time somebody would burst into song or laughter, and some people continued to whisper on and off all through the night.· And with that he clasped both hands gently over his chest and burst into song.· And indeed, from this lofty site Loch Arkaig itself is a vision to make you burst into song.· When the choir commenced the first carol, even the most self-conscious among them burst into song.· She burst into songs between the stories.· With a smock artfully covering his paunchy frame, Pavarotti, 56, burst into golden-toned song.
· Which should come as no surprise to anyone who has heard his songs.· If I heard a new song I had to sing it.· I hear one brief song of the indigo bunting. 3: 07-3: 12 PMIt is overcast.· Can you find honey in the crack of a tree, Hear the song in the mouth of the shell?· People want to hear those songs.· If you hear a good song you tell all your friends about it but radio never breaks anything new.· I heard the song sung by a thousand voices.....
· Yet the Franks have received criticism for including a lot of songs dedicated fans will already own.· These might include songs, chants, or activities that express allegiance to political leaders or symbols.· There are different styles of singing in different regions, and we balance the programme to include different songs from different regions.· Moreover, students were to follow the prescribed curriculum, which included holiday observances, songs, and patriotic exercises.· Many of the new hymn books include worship songs and they find widespread acceptance.· Perkins says he included the song as a way of expressing thanks to McCartney.
· Loudspeakers play the songs of different cricket species from her left and right.· Others wrote poems, plays, stories, songs, novels, even a fake autobiography of the Jersey Jumper.· It took three years to put A1 together, everyone in the band was musical and could play instruments and write songs.· He shot it because it played a sad song.· They're playing Christmas songs - I know cos I heard this one at school before.· As I got older, they still played the song, but the dancers were clearly beginning to fake it.· They're in the middle of a world tour, playing new and traditional songs.· I try to listen like a piece of Silly Putty when some one plays me a song.
· Ideally, you should record the three strongest songs in your set.· They scrutinize recorded songs to determine whether regional dialects exist among those of the same species.· Read in studio A promotion-chasing football team has taken the day off from a hectic training schedule to record a pop song.· Badly recorded, Beatlesque song fragments may make for an interesting aesthetic statement.· In just one session, Mitosis recorded eight songs.· They, in turn, wrote and recorded 12 songs that reflect various scenes and characters in the film.· I still have the tape on which I recorded the songs and music of that evening.· Only company using Racial Artists in recording high-class song records.
· Ken Bradshaw and I were singing songs to one another like a pair of humpback whales.· But mainly I sing love songs.· After singing the song through twice he then encouraged the audience to join in.· This is the principal reason that the great voices of opera seldom sing popular songs.· The voice sings along with the song, then turns into a hum.· Lou Holtz is an itinerant minstrel, his hand out for a few more coins to sing his song at another stop.· Bob sings their own song, a private version of Lili Marlene, the anthem of all the desert warriors.· He sang a little song to entice them, but they never came.
· And that's how I write songs.· Fortunately, Nelson has written enough songs about dissolute living that the alternative crew can feel comfortable singing them.· Since that, we'd been touring constantly and written about twenty-five songs.· Assimilation worked, especially for a nationalistic capitalist who could write hit songs.· I wrote a song about a satellite once but that doesn't mean I am a satellite, does it?· In September of 1980, I was getting $ 200 a week to write songs.· If a band don't write their own songs, the manager has to find the right songwriters.· From that start Leiber and Stoller went on from 1951 to 1956 to write songs rarely heard by whites.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► break into a smile/a song/applause etc► a beer/song/food etc fest► a snatch of conversation/music/song etc
1music with words a)[countable] a short piece of music with words that you sing: - One woman bought a whole armful of clothes for a song.
- If they are exclusively narrative they are useless for song writing.
- One woman nabbed an armful of career clothes for a song.
- Peter Allen accompanies himself on the piano for a song.
- Some one had an extra ticket for Song and Dance and wanted to know if I was free, a week ago Thursday.
- Sometimes I draw on them for subjects for songs.
- We buy Third World commodities for a song.
- Barney, he had these two sons - tried to set up a song and dance act.
- But to the children of Gloucestershire, it's just making a song and dance about having fun.
- I think most conductors would have stopped and made a song and dance.
- If she had wanted to stay she'd have made a song and dance, but it was better to move.
- Look here, there's no need to make a song and dance of it.
- This theme has a curious persistence, but one does not need a song and dance about it.
- Daniel Boone heard it: the siren song of the open road, beckoning him to pack up and go.
- Forty Niners president Carmen Policy called the lure of free agency a siren song.
- Mr. Sheerman Is not it time that the Minister ignored some of the siren voices behind her?
- The bottom line is that General Motors heeded the siren song of management Centralism in the mid-sixties.
- Then, unable to resist the telephonic siren song, she picked it up.
- They prepared their siren song for the early-evening crowd.
- This coalition must hold together in the post-war settlement and resist the siren voices calling for a huge re-arming of the region.
- Gowie Corby, Gowie Corby, the theme tune for all that's wrong in this school.
- I know she liked the theme music.
- I worked on the theme song with Ziggy Marley.
- Sometimes the cartoon theme song is better than some of the episodes themselves.
- Tampons that play the Hollyoaks theme tune when inserted?
- The theme music for the show starts up.
- The theme music starts and I immediately find something more interesting to do.
- The theme tune from Titanic was played at their wedding.
We used to listen to pop songs on the radio. They sat round with guitars, singing songs. b)[uncountable] songs in general: The bravery of past warriors was celebrated in song.2birds [countable, uncountable] the musical sounds made by birds and some other animals such as whales: the song of the lark3for a song very cheaply: He bought the house for a song five years ago.4a song and dance (about something) informal a)British English if you make a song and dance about something, you behave as if it was worse, more important, more difficult etc than it really is: Suzy was there, making a song and dance about her aching feet. b)American English an explanation or excuse that is too long and complicated: She gave us a long song and dance about why she was late. → swansongCOLLOCATIONSverbssing a song· He started singing a little song.play a song (=with singing and musical instruments)· The band played a lot of their old songs.perform a song (=in public)· He doesn’t like performing his songs live.write/compose a song· Do they write their own songs?record a song (=onto a CD so that it can be sold)· The song was first recorded in 1982.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + songgood/great· That’s a great song!new· Are any of the songs on the album new?old· People always want to hear their old songs.a pop/folk song· I love all those '60s pop songs.a popular song (=used mainly of songs written before the 1960s)· a popular song from the 1930sa love song· He is releasing an album of love songs for Valentine’s Day.a protest song· They were singing old protest songs from the 1960s.a Beatles/REM etc song· Can you play any Beatles songs?phrasesburst/break into song (=start singing)· The crowd spontaneously burst into song.THESAURUSsong a short piece of music with words that you sing: · We sang songs around the campfire.· The song was written by John Lennon.track one of the songs on a CD or record: · Track three is my favourite one.number a song that forms part of a performance of several songs: · The show was brilliant, from the opening number to the end.tune the notes in a song, without the words: · I recognize the tune, but I can’t remember what it’s called.melody the main series of notes in a piece of music that has several parts which are played together: · The song has a simple melody and beautiful lyrics.verse a set of sentences that make up one part of a song: · She sang the first verse of ‘Amazing Grace’.chorus a set of sentences in a song that is repeated after each verse: · Most of the kids were able to join in the chorus.types of songnational anthem the official song of a country, which is sung or played on public occasions: · Before the match, everyone stood up to sing the national anthem.hymn /hɪm/ a religious song that is sung in a church: · What hymns did you choose for your wedding?· At funerals people often sing the hymn ‘Abide with Me’.carol a traditional Christmas song: · We went around the houses, singing carols.folk song a traditional song from a particular area: · an old Mexican folk songballad a long folk song which tells a story: · a traditional ballad about a man who is dreaming of his home in Irelandlullaby a slow quiet song sung to children to make them go to sleep: · She sat by the child’s bed, softly singing a lullaby.