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Sing vs Lilt - What's the difference?

sing | lilt |

As verbs the difference between sing and lilt

is that sing is to produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice while lilt is to do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.

As nouns the difference between sing and lilt

is that sing is a gathering for the purpose of singing songs while lilt is animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.

sing

English

Verb

  • To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice.
  • "I really want to sing in the school choir." said Vera .
  • To express audibly by means of a harmonious vocalization.
  • * {{quote-book, 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, chapter=The Tutor's Daughter, Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page=266 citation
  • , passage=In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.}}
  • To soothe with singing.
  • to sing somebody to sleep
  • (slang) To confess under interrogation.
  • To make a small, shrill sound.
  • The air sings in passing through a crevice.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • O'er his head the flying spear / Sang innocent, and spent its force in air.
  • To relate in verse; to celebrate in poetry.
  • * Prior
  • Bid her sing / Of human hope by cross event destroyed.
    (Milton)

    Derived terms

    * besing * sing along / sing-along * singer * sing from the same hymnbook * singing cowboy * sing out * singsong * sing soprano * sing the praises

    See also

    * singe

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A gathering for the purpose of singing songs.
  • * 2002 , Martha Mizell Puckett, ?Hoyle B. Puckett, Memories of a Georgia Teacher: Fifty Years in the Classroom (page 198)
  • Some of the young folks asked Mrs. Long could they have a sing at her home that Sunday afternoon; she readily agreed, telling them to come early, bring their songbooks, and have a good sing.

    lilt

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
  • (Wordsworth)
  • To sing cheerfully, especially in Gaelic.
  • To utter with spirit, animation, or gaiety; to sing with spirit and liveliness.
  • * Tennyson
  • A classic lecture, rich in sentiment, / With scraps of thundrous epic lilted out / By violet-hooded doctors.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.
  • A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune.
  • A cheerful or melodious accent when speaking.
  • * July 18 2012 , Scott Tobias, AV Club The Dark Knight Rises [http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-dark-knight-rises-review-batman,82624/]
  • *:Though Bane’s sing-song voice gives his pronouncements a funny lilt , he doesn’t have any of the Joker’s deranged wit, and Nolan isn’t interested in undercutting his seriousness for the sake of a breezier entertainment.
  • See also

    * brogue * drawl * lisp * twang (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

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