quartet
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 5The string quartet played beautiful music at the wedding.
The group of four musicians played lovely songs during the marriage ceremony.
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.
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.
Synonyms
Word Family
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
The string quartet played beautiful music at the wedding.
everydayThe group of four musicians played lovely songs during the marriage ceremony.
The university is proud to host a world-renowned string quartet this evening.
formalThe college is pleased to welcome a famous group of four players tonight.
My friends and I formed a small quartet to play at the park.
informalMy pals and I started a four-person group to perform in the garden.
The composer's later works redefined the structure of the modern quartet.
academicThe writer's final music changed how the four-person piece is organized.
We hired a jazz quartet to provide background music for the corporate event.
businessThe company employed four jazz musicians to play music at the business meeting.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
A quarter is one-fourth (1/4) of something, while a quartet is a group of four people.
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
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
Related Vocabulary
More music words
octave
A1An 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
A1In 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
A1A 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
A1A 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
A1A 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
A1An 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
A1A 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
A1A 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
A1Timpani 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
A1A 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.
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