lyric
gb/lˈɪɹɪk/ us/lˈɪɹɪk/
B1
English
~ 8100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
the words of a song
The words of a song that a person sings.
Usage pattern:
the lyrics to [a song]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse the singular and plural forms. In modern English, people almost always say "the lyrics" (plural), not "the lyric", when they mean the words of a song. Another common confusion is between "lyrics" (words) and "music" or "melody" (the tune).
Synonyms
words (Very general; refers to any words, not only those of songs.)
|
songwords (Less common and more informal; used mainly to make clear that the words belong to a song.)
|
libretto (A technical term for the complete text of an opera or musical, usually longer and more formal than typical lyrics.)
Antonyms
melody (Refers to the tune or musical notes of a song, which are the opposite component to the lyrics (the words).)
Collocations
song lyrics
|rap lyrics
|write lyrics
|learn the lyrics
|quote the lyrics
|look up the lyrics
Themes
music
|entertainment
|media
|arts_entertainment
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The lyrics to that song are incredibly moving.
- I misheard the lyrics and sang the wrong words for years.
- She writes her own lyrics as well as the music.
- The website lets you search for song lyrics by artist or title.
- He forgot the lyrics halfway through the performance and had to improvise.
Learner examples
- I like the lyrics of this song.
- I read the lyrics so I can sing along.
- These lyrics are easy to remember.
- She wrote the lyrics and he wrote the music.
- Can you send me the lyrics to that song?
Noun
literary
C1
entity
2
short poem of personal feeling
A short poem that shows strong personal feelings, often in a musical way.
Usage pattern:
a lyric about [a feeling/topic]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "lyric" always means the words of a song. In literature, a "lyric" is a type of poem, not necessarily meant to be sung. They may also confuse "lyric poem" with longer narrative poems such as ballads or epics, which tell stories rather than focus on a single feeling or moment.
Synonyms
poem (General term; a lyric is a specific type of poem that focuses on personal feelings rather than story or description.)
|
ode (A kind of lyric poem, usually more formal and ceremonial in tone.)
Antonyms
epic (An epic is a long narrative poem that tells a story, often with heroic events, which contrasts with the short, personal nature of a lyric.)
Collocations
lyric poetry
|a brief lyric
|love lyric
|modern lyric
|lyric sequence
|lyric poet
Themes
literature
|art
|emotions
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The anthology includes both narrative poems and a selection of intimate lyrics.
- She is best known for a series of nature lyrics written in her early twenties.
- This brief lyric captures a moment of sudden joy.
- Students were asked to compare the structure of the lyric with that of the ballad.
- The poet's late lyrics are darker and more reflective.
Learner examples
- We read a short lyric in class today.
- This lyric talks about sadness and hope.
- The poet wrote many lyrics about love.
- I like this lyric because it is very personal.
- He turned his feelings into a beautiful lyric.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
poetic, musical, emotional in style
Describes language, art, or music that sounds like poetry and shows deep personal feelings in a beautiful way.
Usage pattern:
a lyric [poem/style/passage/voice]
Common mistake:
Learners often use "lyrical" instead of "lyric". In many contexts this is acceptable and more natural. However, in fixed phrases like "lyric poetry" or "lyric soprano", the correct form is usually "lyric", not "lyrical".
Synonyms
lyrical (More common in modern English; used in the same way, but often slightly broader, for any expressive, emotional style.)
|
poetic (General term for language with strong imagery or rhythm; may lack the explicitly emotional, song-like quality implied by "lyric".)
Antonyms
prosaic (Describes language or style that is plain, ordinary, or lacking poetic or emotional qualities, the opposite of a lyric style.)
Collocations
lyric poetry
|lyric style
|lyric voice
|lyric passage
|lyric intensity
|lyric beauty
Themes
literature
|art
|emotions
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The novel is written in a quiet, lyric prose that lingers on small details.
- Her performance had a soft, lyric quality that suited the role perfectly.
- Critics praised the film’s lyric moments of silence and reflection.
- He is known for his lyric descriptions of the countryside.
- The composer’s early works are surprisingly rough, with little of the lyric warmth of his later pieces.
Learner examples
- The writer uses a very lyric style in this book.
- The movie has many lyric scenes with slow music.
- She has a light, lyric voice that fits this song.
- I enjoy his lyric descriptions of nature.
- The poem feels calm and lyric, not angry or loud.
adjective
B2
property
4
relating to song words
About the written words of a song, not the music.
Usage pattern:
a lyric [video/sheet/website]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "lyric video" with "music video". A lyric video mainly shows the words of the song on the screen, while a music video usually tells a visual story or shows the artist performing.
Synonyms
song-text (Much less common; sometimes used in technical or descriptive contexts for the written words of a song.)
Antonyms
instrumental (Describes music with no singing or song words, the opposite of something focused on lyrics.)
Collocations
lyric video
|lyric sheet
|lyric booklet
|lyric website
|online lyric database
Themes
music
|media
|technology
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The band released a lyric video on YouTube before the official music video.
- I printed a lyric sheet so the audience could sing along.
- She runs a popular lyric website that indexes thousands of songs.
- The album comes with a full-color lyric booklet.
- He prefers lyric videos because he wants to understand every word.
Learner examples
- I watched a lyric video and learned the song.
- This app shows a lyric screen while the song plays.
- I found a lyric website for Korean pop songs.
- The CD includes a lyric booklet inside.
- He made a lyric poster with the words of his favorite song.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lyric
IPA
GB/lˈɪɹɪk/
US/lˈɪɹɪk/
Syllables & stress
lyr - ic (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (lyr)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: lyric
Noun
- Base: lyric
- Plural: lyrics
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.