- a composition free in structure and highly emotional in character
- an expression of ecstatic enthusiasm
- (in ancient Greece) an epic poem or part of an epic recited by a rhapsodist
- a literary work composed in an intense or exalted style
- rapturous delight or ecstasy
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rhap•so•dy /ˈræpsədi/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. -dies.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Music and Dancea piece of music that is irregular in form and highly emotional.
- an expression of great passion, such as an intense speech:a rhapsody about true love.
rhap•so•dy
(rap′sə dē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -dies.
- Music and Dancean instrumental composition irregular in form and suggestive of improvisation.
- an ecstatic expression of feeling or enthusiasm.
- Literaturean epic poem, or a part of such a poem, as a book of the Iliad, suitable for recitation at one time.
- Literaturea similar piece of modern literature.
- Literaturean unusually intense or irregular poem or piece of prose.
- [Archaic.]a miscellaneous collection;
jumble.
- Greek rhapsōidía recital of epic poetry, equivalent. to rhapsōid(ós) rhapsodist + -ia -y3
- Latin rhapsōdia
- 1535–45
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rhapsody /ˈræpsədɪ/ n ( pl -dies)
'rhapsody' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):