quartet

quartet — noun

1. a small performing group consisting of exactly four members, all playing instrum

1.名詞B2
釋義

a small performing group consisting of exactly four members, all playing instruments or singing together as one unit

例句

The Juilliard String Quartet has been performing together for over seventy years.

proper noun as established group name

Ishaan and his three friends formed a jazz quartet for the school talent show.

同義詞
  • ensemble

    broader term for any group of performers, not limited to four

  • foursome

    less formal and rarely used for professional music groups; more common for casual settings

反義詞
  • solo

    a single performer, contrast in group size

  • trio

    a group of three, the next smaller standard ensemble size

  • quintet

    a group of five, the next larger standard ensemble size

用法筆記

A modifier specifying the type of ensemble (string, jazz, vocal, piano) usually comes before the word when introducing the group for the first time. The modifier alone can disambiguate the instrumentation: a string quartet uses two violins, a viola, and a cello.

常見錯誤

❌She plays in a quartet of musicians.
✅She plays in a quartet.
💡'quartet' already means a group of four; adding 'of musicians' is redundant.

2. a composition written so that four different instruments or singers each have th

2.名詞B2
釋義

a composition written so that four different instruments or singers each have their own separate part to perform

例句

Beethoven's late string quartets are considered some of the greatest works in classical music.

composer's + [type] + quartets for a set of pieces

The quartet requires each musician to listen carefully to the other three parts.

同義詞
  • composition

    a general term for any written musical work, regardless of performer count

  • chamber work

    a piece written for a small group of performers, often including quartets

反義詞
  • solo

    a piece for a single instrument or voice, contrast in performer count

  • duet

    a piece for two performers, the next smaller chamber format

  • trio

    a piece for three performers

用法筆記

The same modifier—string quartet, piano quartet—can refer either to the performing group (sense 1) or to the piece (sense 2). Context disambiguates: 'The quartet played for an hour' → group; 'The quartet has three movements' → composition. When naming a specific work, the composer's name typically precedes the word: 'a Mozart quartet.'

常見錯誤

❌I listened to a quartet.' (ambiguous whether group or piece is meant)
✅I listened to a Mozart quartet.
💡specifying the composer or type removes ambiguity.

3. any set or collection of four people, animals, or objects that are seen together

3.名詞B2
釋義

any set or collection of four people, animals, or objects that are seen together as one unit

例句

A quartet of detectives worked together on the complex robbery case.

a quartet of + [people]

Four ancient statues stood in a quartet at the entrance of the museum.

同義詞
  • foursome

    more informal and used mainly for people in social or sports contexts

  • set

    broader term for any collection, not specifying a precise number

  • group

    general term for any number of people or things together

反義詞
  • single

    one item, contrast in number

  • pair

    two items, contrast in number

文法句型

a quartet of + plural noun phrase

用法筆記

Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense is not limited to music. It follows the pattern 'a quartet of + plural noun.' The word is most natural when the four items are seen as a deliberate or notable grouping.