n. In general, a succession of agreeable musical sounds; sweet sound; song; tune; music.n. Specifically In music: A succession of tones, whether pleasing or not.n. The underlying relationship may be variously established: by any particular rhythmic arrangement, as in some popular dance-tunes; by the intervals of a single chord, as in arpeggio phrases; by a diatonic order, as in scale passages; by the harmonic connections between successive chords of which the melody in question forms one of the voice-parts, as in simple choral writing; and by innumerable modifications and combinations of these and similar principles.n. A melody is authentic when its compass extends about an octave upward from its key-note or final, plagal when its compass extends about a half-octave above and below the key-note and final. It is diatonic when it uses only the proper tones of the scale in which it is written, chromatic when it uses other tones, foreign to that scale. It is concrete or conjunct when it proceeds by single degrees, upward or downward; discrete or disjunct when it proceeds by steps of more than a single degree. It is syllabic when but one tone is given to each syllable of the words; slurred when more than one tone is given to a syllable. A melody may be further described as popular, national, artistic, etc.n. A melodious or tuneful poem; a poetical composition suitable for singing.