A1 noun Neutral

quartet

/kwɔːrˈtɛt/

A group of four people who play musical instruments or sing together. It can also refer to a piece of music written specifically for four performers.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The string quartet played beautiful music at the wedding.

The group of four musicians played lovely songs during the marriage ceremony.

2

The university is proud to host a world-renowned string quartet this evening.

The college is pleased to welcome a famous group of four players tonight.

3

My friends and I formed a small quartet to play at the park.

My pals and I started a four-person group to perform in the garden.

Word Family

Noun
quartet
Adjective
quartet
Related
quarter
💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Quart' (like 4 quarts in a gallon) plus 'et' (a small group). 4 + small group = Quartet.

Quick Quiz

The ______ consists of two violins, one viola, and one cello.

Correct!

The correct answer is: quartet

Examples

1

The string quartet played beautiful music at the wedding.

everyday

The group of four musicians played lovely songs during the marriage ceremony.

2

The university is proud to host a world-renowned string quartet this evening.

formal

The college is pleased to welcome a famous group of four players tonight.

3

My friends and I formed a small quartet to play at the park.

informal

My pals and I started a four-person group to perform in the garden.

4

The composer's later works redefined the structure of the modern quartet.

academic

The writer's final music changed how the four-person piece is organized.

5

We hired a jazz quartet to provide background music for the corporate event.

business

The company employed four jazz musicians to play music at the business meeting.

Word Family

Noun
quartet
Adjective
quartet
Related
quarter

Common Collocations

string quartet four musicians playing string instruments
jazz quartet four musicians playing jazz music
vocal quartet four people singing together
barbershop quartet four men singing in a specific harmony style
piano quartet a group with a piano and three other instruments

Common Phrases

form a quartet

to start a group of four

string quartet

a standard musical group of four strings

vocal quartet

a singing group of four people

Often Confused With

quartet vs quarter

A quarter is one-fourth (1/4) of something, while a quartet is a group of four people.

quartet vs quintet

A quintet is a group of five people, whereas a quartet is a group of four.

📝

Usage Notes

While mainly used in music, you can use 'quartet' to describe any set of four related things or people. It is more formal than saying 'a group of four'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget the 't' at the end or confuse it with 'quarter'. Remember that 'tet' sounds like 'four' in some related languages.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Quart' (like 4 quarts in a gallon) plus 'et' (a small group). 4 + small group = Quartet.

📖

Word Origin

From the Italian word 'quartetto', based on 'quarto' meaning 'fourth'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun: one quartet, two quartets Can be used as a collective noun with singular or plural verbs
🌍

Cultural Context

The string quartet is considered one of the most important forms in Western classical music, popularized by composers like Haydn and Beethoven.

Quick Quiz

The ______ consists of two violins, one viola, and one cello.

Correct!

The correct answer is: quartet

More music words

octave

A1

An octave is the distance between two musical notes where the higher note has double the frequency of the lower one. In a standard musical scale, it includes eight notes, such as from one 'C' to the next 'C' above it.

measure

A1

In music, a measure is a small section of a piece of music that contains a specific number of beats. It is the space between two vertical lines on a musical staff that helps musicians keep track of the rhythm.

guitar

A1

A musical instrument that usually has six strings and a long neck. It is played by plucking or strumming the strings with your fingers or a pick.

cello

A1

A large musical instrument with four strings that is played with a bow. The player sits down and holds the instrument between their knees while playing.

clarinet

A1

A musical instrument shaped like a long black tube with metal keys. You play it by blowing into a mouthpiece with a single reed to create sound.

oboe

A1

An oboe is a musical instrument that belongs to the woodwind family. It has a long, thin body and uses a double reed to create a high, clear, and distinct sound.

trumpet

A1

A musical instrument made of brass that you play by blowing into it and pressing three valves. It has a bright, powerful sound and is often used in jazz, classical music, and marching bands.

drum

A1

A musical instrument made of a hollow body covered with a tight skin or plastic. It is played by hitting it with sticks or your hands to create a rhythmic sound.

timpani

A1

Timpani are large, bowl-shaped drums usually made of copper and played in an orchestra. They are also called kettledrums because they look like big pots and can be tuned to specific musical notes.

piano

A1

A large musical instrument with a row of black and white keys that are pressed to make sound. It produces music by hitting wire strings with small hammers and is used in many styles of music.

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Start learning languages for free

Start Learning Free