What does "lyric" mean?
A lyric poem.
Lyric
adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A lyric poem.
- Grammar: lyric is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: alba, anacreontic, arethusa, balada.
- Useful contrasts: dramatic, epic, prosaic.
- Usage evidence: What's your favorite song lyric?
How to use "lyric"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "lyric" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "lyric" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "lyric" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A lyric poem.
- 2 a short poem of songlike quality wordnet
- 3 The words of a song or other vocal music. plural-normally
"The lyric in line 3 doesn't rhyme."
- 4 the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number wordnet
Verb
- 1 write lyrics for (a song) wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of, or relating to a type of poetry (such as a sonnet or ode) that expresses subjective thoughts and feelings, often in a songlike style.
- 2 Of or relating to a writer of such poetry.
- 3 Lyrical.
- 4 Having a light singing voice of modest range.
- 5 Of or relating to musical drama and opera.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Melodious.
- 7 Of or relating to the lyre (or sometimes the harp).
Adjective
- 1 expressing deep emotion wordnet
- 2 used of a singer or singing voice that is light in volume and modest in range wordnet
- 3 of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses emotion (often in a songlike way) wordnet
- 4 relating to or being musical drama wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A male given name.
- 2 A female given name.
Example
"What's your favorite song lyric?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "lyric"?
Common synonyms include: alba, anacreontic, arethusa, balada, ballad, ballade.
How do you use "lyric" in a sentence?
What's your favorite song lyric?
Etymology
From French lyrique, or its source, Latin lyricus, from Ancient Greek λυρικός (lurikós), from λύρα (lúra, “lyre”). Its English equivalent would be lyre + -ic. The original Greek sense of "lyric poetry"—"poetry accompanied by the lyre" i.e. "words set to music"—eventually led to its use as "lyrics", first attested in Stainer and Barrett's 1876 Dictionary of Musical Terms. Stainer and Barrett used the word as a singular substantive: "Lyric, poetry or blank verse intended to be set to music and sung". By the 1930s, the present use of the plurale tantum "lyrics" had begun; it has been standard since the 1950s for many writers. The singular form "lyric" is still used to mean the complete words to a song by authorities such as Alec Wilder, Robert Gottlieb, and Stephen Sondheim. However, the singular form is also commonly used to refer to a specific line (or phrase) within a song's lyrics.