lyric
lyric — noun
1. The written words that someone sings in a song — the text that goes with the tun
The written words that someone sings in a song — the text that goes with the tune, as opposed to the musical melody or instrumental part.
Ryo read the song's lyrics while listening to the melody for the first time.
The teacher asked the students to write down the lyrics of their favourite song.
Bao printed the lyrics from the internet so he could sing along at the concert.
Those lyrics about growing up in a small town really touched Christopher's heart.
Élise spent hours memorising every lyric for her school talent show performance.
文法句型
the lyrics of/to [song]
lyrics about [topic]
song lyrics
用法筆記
The plural form 'lyrics' is far more common than the singular 'lyric' when referring to the complete text of a song. The singular 'lyric' is occasionally used for a single line or phrase within a song.
常見錯誤
2. A brief poem in which the writer shares their own inner emotions, personal refle
A brief poem in which the writer shares their own inner emotions, personal reflections, or individual experiences, often composed in a style that feels musical or song-like.
The anthology opens with a beautiful lyric about loneliness written by a young poet.
lyric + prepositional phrase 'about [subject]'
Lakan studied a lyric by William Blake for his poetry assignment.
collocation: study a lyric
Yael wrote a lyric for her literature class about the first time she saw the ocean.
Unlike an epic that tells a long story, a lyric captures a single moment of emotion.
The critic praised Asher's lyric for its honest and raw emotional power.
- epic
a long narrative poem about heroic deeds, opposite in length and scope
文法句型
a lyric about [subject]
[author]'s lyrics
用法筆記
A 'lyric' in this sense refers specifically to a type of poem — shorter and more personal than an 'ode' or an 'elegy'. This meaning is almost entirely restricted to literary discussion and poetry analysis.
常見錯誤
lyric — adjective
1. Relating to a style of writing, especially poetry, that gives direct expression
Relating to a style of writing, especially poetry, that gives direct expression to the author's personal emotions and inner state rather than describing external events or telling a story.
Sahil prefers lyric poetry over narrative poetry because it feels more personal and direct.
fixed phrase: lyric poetry
The singer's lyric style — honest, emotional, and personal — attracted a loyal fan base.
collocation: lyric style
Bao's journal entries have a lyric quality, full of feeling but without a clear storyline.
The poet is famous for her lyric expression of both joy and sorrow in everyday life.
Esteban's writing became more lyric after he started keeping a diary of his emotions.
- lyrical
more common in everyday English; broader in meaning — can describe any beautiful or song-like quality
- poetic
broader; can describe any quality of poetry, not specifically emotional expression
- expressive
focuses on showing feeling, without the song-like connotation of 'lyric'
文法句型
lyric poetry
lyric verse
lyric poet
lyric style
lyric passage
用法筆記
The adjective 'lyric' is mainly used in literary contexts within fixed phrases like 'lyric poetry' or 'lyric verse'. Do not confuse it with 'lyrical', which is more common in everyday English and can describe anything beautiful, expressive, or song-like — for example, 'her lyrical voice' or 'a lyrical description'.