Music and literature

Lesson 20

Culture

Title: Culture

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌltʃər/

Part of speech: noun

Formal or informal: both

Stress marks: cul-ture

Synonym: civilization

Opposite: barbarism

 

the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively

The country’s culture is rich and diverse

the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively

Art

Title: Art

Pronunciation: /ɑːt/

Part of speech: noun

Formal or informal: both

Stress marks: art

Synonym: fine art

Opposite: science

 

the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination

The art gallery featured a collection of modern art

the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination

Painting

Title: Painting

Pronunciation: /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/

Part of speech: noun

Formal or informal: both

Countable or uncountable: countable

Stress marks: paint-ing

Synonym: artwork

Opposite: erasing

 

the process or art of using paint, in a picture, as a protective coating, or as decoration

The painting depicted a beautiful landscape

the process or art of using paint, in a picture, as a protective coating, or as decoration

Picture

Title: Picture

Pronunciation: /ˈpɪktʃə/

Part of speech: noun

Formal or informal: both

Countable or uncountable: countable

Stress marks: pic-ture

Synonym: image

Opposite: reality

 

a painting or drawing; a visual representation of a person, object, or scene, produced on a surface

The picture hanging on the wall was a family portrait

a painting or drawing; a visual representation of a person, object, or scene, produced on a surface

Instrument

Title: Instrument

Pronunciation: /ˈɪnstrəmənt/

Part of speech: noun

Formal or informal: both

Countable or uncountable: countable

Stress marks: in-stru-ment

Synonym: device

Opposite: voice

 

a tool or implement, especially one for delicate or scientific work; a device for producing musical

The musician played the instrument with great skill

a tool or implement, especially one for delicate or scientific work; a device for producing musical

Guitarist

Title: Guitarist

Pronunciation: /ɡɪˈtɑːrɪst/

Part of speech: noun

Formal or informal: both

Countable or uncountable: countable

Stress marks: gui-tar-ist

Synonym: musician

Opposite: non-musician

 

a person who plays the guitar, especially as a profession or for entertainment

The guitarist performed a solo at the concert

a person who plays the guitar, especially as a profession or for entertainment

Musician

Title: Musician

Pronunciation:/mjuːˈzɪʃn/

Part of speech:noun 

Formal or informal: both 

Stress marks:/mu-si-cian/ 

Synonym:music player 

Opposite:silence

 

a person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented

The musician performed at the music festival

a person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented

Jazz

Title: Jazz

Pronunciation:/dʒæz/

Part of speech:noun/adjective 

Formal or informal: both 

Stress marks:/jazz/ 

Synonym:musical genre 

Opposite:silence

 

a type of music of black American origin characterized by improvisation, syncopation

The jazz band played at the club

a type of music of black American origin characterized by improvisation, syncopation

Pop

Title: Pop

Pronunciation:/pɒp/

Part of speech:noun/adjective 

Formal or informal: both 

Stress marks:/pop/ 

Synonym:musical genre 

Opposite:silence

 

a type of popular music characterized by an easily memorable melody, a relatively simple rhythm

The pop singer released a new album

a type of popular music characterized by an easily memorable melody, a relatively simple rhythm

Rock

Title: Rock

Pronunciation:/rɒk/

Part of speech:noun/adjective 

Formal or informal: both 

Stress marks:/rock/ 

Synonym:musical genre 

Opposite:silence

 

a type of popular music with a strong rhythm that is played with electric guitars and drums

The rock band performed at the music festival

a type of popular music with a strong rhythm that is played with electric guitars and drums

Record

Title: Record

Pronunciation:/rɪˈkɔːd/

Part of speech:noun/verb 

Formal or informal: both 

Stress marks:/re-cord/ 

Synonym:vintage 

Opposite:new

 

a thin plastic disc carrying recorded sound, especially music; to set down in writing

The record was a bestseller

Concert

Title: Concert

Pronunciation:/ˈkɒnsərt/

Part of speech:noun/verb 

Formal or informal: both 

Stress marks:/con-cert/ 

Synonym:musical performance 

Opposite:silence

 

a musical performance given in public, typically by several performers

The concert was sold out

a musical performance given in public, typically by several performers

Dancer

Title: Dancer

Pronunciation:/ˈdɑːnsə/

Part of speech:noun/adjective 

Formal or informal: both 

Stress marks:/dan-cer/ 

Synonym:dance performer 

Opposite:spectator

 

a person who dances, either professionally or as a hobby; relating to dance

The dancer performed a beautiful routine

a person who dances, either professionally or as a hobby; relating to dance

Drum

Title: Drum

Pronunciation:/drʌm/

Part of speech:noun/verb  

Formal or informal: both  

Stress marks:/drum/  

Synonym:musical instrument  

Opposite:silence

 

a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow

The drummer played the drum at the concert

a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow

Poet

Title: Poet

Pronunciation:/ˈpəʊɪt/

Part of speech:noun  

Formal or informal: both  

Stress marks:/po-et/  

Synonym:rhymer  

Opposite:speechless

 

a person who writes poems; a writer of poetry

The poet recited his latest work at the poetry reading

a person who writes poems; a writer of poetry

Poem

Title: Poem

Pronunciation:/ˈpəʊɪm/

Part of speech:noun  

Formal or informal: both  

Stress marks:/po-em/  

Synonym:rhythmical composition  

Opposite:silence

 

a piece of writing in which the expression of feelings

The poet recited his latest poem at the event

a piece of writing in which the expression of feelings

Opera

Title: Opera

Pronunciation:/ˈɒpərə/

Part of speech:noun  

Formal or informal: both  

Stress marks:/op-era/  

Synonym:musical drama  

Opposite:silence

 

a dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists

The opera singer performed at the grand opera house

a dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists

Classical

Title: Classical

Pronunciation:/ˈklæsɪkəl/

Part of speech:noun/adjective  

Formal or informal: both  

Countable or uncountable: countable

Stress marks: clas-si-cal

Synonym:(adjective - traditional);(noun - study of antiquity)   

Opposite:(adjective - modern);(noun - contemporary).

:(adjective) judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind

The classical concert featured works by Mozart

:(adjective) judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind