song
gb/sˈɔŋ/ us/sˈɔŋ/
A1
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
A musical composition with singing
A short piece of music that you sing, usually with words and music together.
Usage pattern:
to sing [a song]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'song' with 'music'; 'music' is the general term, while a 'song' is one specific piece, usually with singing.
Synonyms
tune (Less formal; can also refer to the melody without lyrics.)
|
track (Common in recorded music contexts, especially albums or playlists.)
Antonyms
silence (Represents the absence of sound or music.)
Collocations
sing a song
|write a song
|popular song
|love song
|theme song
Themes
music
|entertainment
|arts
|arts_entertainment
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wrote a song about her hometown.
- That song always makes me feel happy.
- They performed a song from their new album.
- The children sang a song together at the school concert.
Learner examples
- I like this song.
- They sing a happy song.
- My friend wrote a song.
- We hear a song on the radio.
Noun
B1
event
2
Musical sound made by a bird
The pretty sounds that birds make.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'birdsong' (one word) with 'bird song' (two words); both are correct but 'birdsong' is more common in writing.
Synonyms
call (More general; refers to any vocal sound made by an animal, not necessarily musical.)
Antonyms
silence (Absence of any sound, including birdsong.)
Collocations
bird song
|morning song
|song of the nightingale
Themes
nature
|animals
Examples
- The song of the robin filled the garden.
- We woke up to the sweet song of birds.
- Bird song is often used to identify species.
Learner examples
- I hear the song of a bird.
- The bird's song is nice.
- We hear bird songs in the morning.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Poem meant for singing
A poem that is made to be sung with music.
Synonyms
ballad (A narrative poem or song, often traditional.)
Collocations
folk song
|traditional song
Themes
literature
|music
|arts_entertainment
|education
|communication
Examples
- This medieval song has been passed down for centuries.
- Many folk songs tell stories about love and loss.
- The singer adapted the poem into a song.
Learner examples
- This old song is about love.
- People sing songs in the festival.
- A poet wrote this song long ago.
Noun
B2
quantity
4
Very low price for something valuable
A very cheap price for something good.
Usage pattern:
for a song
Common mistake:
Learners may interpret 'for a song' literally instead of understanding it as an idiom meaning 'very cheaply'.
Synonyms
bargain (General term for something bought at a good price; not always as low as 'for a song'.)
Antonyms
rip-off (Something sold at an unfairly high price.)
Collocations
buy for a song
Themes
money
|shopping
|finance
|business
|daily_life
Examples
- I got this antique table for a song at the flea market.
- They bought their house for a song before property prices rose.
- That vintage jacket was going for a song.
Learner examples
- He bought the bike for a song.
- We got the tickets for a song.
- She sold the bag for a song.
Grammar
Expressions
burst into song
1/bˈɚst ˈɪntu sˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
Start singing suddenly and energetically
To suddenly start singing loudly and clearly.
Examples
- She burst into song when she heard her favorite tune.
- The crowd burst into song after the victory.
for a song
1/fɚ ə sˈɔŋ/
idiom
informal
Very cheaply priced item or deal
To buy or get something at a very cheap price compared to its value.
Examples
- I got these shoes for a song at the sale.
- They bought their car for a song because it needed repairs.
sing a different tune/song
1/sˈɪŋ ə dˈɪfɹənt tˈunsˈɑŋ/
idiom
informal
Change opinion or attitude completely
To change your opinion or behavior to be very different from before.
Examples
- He was against the plan, but after seeing the benefits, he sang a different tune.
- She'll sing a different tune when she sees the results.
swan song
1/swˈɑn sˈɔŋ/
idiom
final work before retirement or end
The last performance, piece of work, or action someone does before they stop doing that kind of work, often because they retire or die.
Examples
- The novel was considered the author's swan song.
- The director’s latest film is being called his swan song.
- That concert was the band's swan song before they broke up.
- Many fans came to hear the singer’s swan song concert.