Lilt
noun
A pleasant, rhythmic rise and fall pattern in someone's voice or in music.
His voice had a musical lilt that was very calming.
Often appears as...
- her voice had a lilt
- he spoke with a lilt
verb
To speak, sing, or play music in a rhythm that has a pattern of pleasant rises and falls.
She was lilted softly to the rhythm of the music.
Often appears as...
- lilt to the music
- she lilts a song
noun
A pleasant, rhythmic rise and fall pattern in someone's voice or in music.
His voice had a musical lilt that was very calming.
Often appears as...
- her voice had a lilt
- he spoke with a lilt
verb
To speak, sing, or play music in a rhythm that has a pattern of pleasant rises and falls.
She was lilted softly to the rhythm of the music.
Often appears as...
- lilt to the music
- she lilts a song
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Lilt often indicates a cheerful or soothing tone in speech or music, suggesting positive emotions.
Despite the stressful situation, her calm instructions had a reassuring lilt.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Music
In music, 'lilt' is sometimes associated with the lively and rhythmic traditional tunes of Ireland or Scotland.
The fiddler played with a lilt that made everyone want to dance.
Pro Tip 3/3Speech Rhythm
When speaking about someone's lilt, it usually refers to a distinctive, melodic way of speaking that's easy to hear.
The poet recited each line with a lilt, capturing the audience's attention.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Lilt often indicates a cheerful or soothing tone in speech or music, suggesting positive emotions.
Despite the stressful situation, her calm instructions had a reassuring lilt.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Music
In music, 'lilt' is sometimes associated with the lively and rhythmic traditional tunes of Ireland or Scotland.
The fiddler played with a lilt that made everyone want to dance.
Pro Tip 3/3Speech Rhythm
When speaking about someone's lilt, it usually refers to a distinctive, melodic way of speaking that's easy to hear.
The poet recited each line with a lilt, capturing the audience's attention.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Lilt often indicates a cheerful or soothing tone in speech or music, suggesting positive emotions.
Despite the stressful situation, her calm instructions had a reassuring lilt.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Music
In music, 'lilt' is sometimes associated with the lively and rhythmic traditional tunes of Ireland or Scotland.
The fiddler played with a lilt that made everyone want to dance.
Pro Tip 3/3Speech Rhythm
When speaking about someone's lilt, it usually refers to a distinctive, melodic way of speaking that's easy to hear.
The poet recited each line with a lilt, capturing the audience's attention.
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Video examples
Meklit Hadero: The...
of the freeway, or the top-right burner of your stove and that strange way that it clicks as it is preparing to light. When seeking melodic inspiration, look no further than dawn and dusk avian orchestras or to the natural lilt of emphatic language.
Video examples
Meklit Hadero: The...
of the freeway, or the top-right burner of your stove and that strange way that it clicks as it is preparing to light. When seeking melodic inspiration, look no further than dawn and dusk avian orchestras or to the natural lilt of emphatic language.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Robert Hilburn
American Critic
One of my great frustrations for 35 years at the paper was the fact I couldn't play a record for the reader when I was writing about an artist. How can you describe the beauty of Emmylou Harris' voice without hearing it, the sensual lilt of a Duane Allman guitar solo without actually hearing it, or the growl of Johnny Rotten without hearing it?
Quote examples
Eline Powell
Belgian Actress
I'm a bit of a melting pot, I try to speak British, but there's some European lilt - a not-so-conventional one because I'm Belgian, from the Flemish part. Dutch was my mother language, and I learned English, and I speak French, too.
Quote examples
Priyanka Chopra
Indian Actress
I'm different. I don't speak perfect American. I do have a lilt of an Indian accent. I thought, 'Maybe the world's not okay with what I bring, being Indian.
Quote examples
Emily Ratajkowski
British Model
I'm a big fan of the Irish accent. After a couple of drinks, I start to get a bit of an Irish lilt, too.
Quote examples
James Broughton
American Director
For me a poem has to sing out of itself and the lilt of it carries the magic.
Quote examples
Ellsworth Kelly
American Artist
Geometry is moribund. I want a lilt and joy to art.
Quote examples
Robert Hilburn
American Critic
One of my great frustrations for 35 years at the paper was the fact I couldn't play a record for the reader when I was writing about an artist. How can you describe the beauty of Emmylou Harris' voice without hearing it, the sensual lilt of a Duane Allman guitar solo without actually hearing it, or the growl of Johnny Rotten without hearing it?
Quote examples
Eline Powell
Belgian Actress
I'm a bit of a melting pot, I try to speak British, but there's some European lilt - a not-so-conventional one because I'm Belgian, from the Flemish part. Dutch was my mother language, and I learned English, and I speak French, too.
Quote examples
Priyanka Chopra
Indian Actress
I'm different. I don't speak perfect American. I do have a lilt of an Indian accent. I thought, 'Maybe the world's not okay with what I bring, being Indian.
Quote examples
Emily Ratajkowski
British Model
I'm a big fan of the Irish accent. After a couple of drinks, I start to get a bit of an Irish lilt, too.
Quote examples
James Broughton
American Director
For me a poem has to sing out of itself and the lilt of it carries the magic.
Quote examples
Ellsworth Kelly
American Artist
Geometry is moribund. I want a lilt and joy to art.
Example 1 of 6
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