Words / B2

LIR-ik/ˈlɪrɪk/

A lyric is the words of a song (often lyrics) or a short poem of feeling: quote a lyric; lyric poetry. Verse is wider; lyrics is the usual plural for songs. Quote a lyric as a primary text. Mix-up: lyre is an ancient instrument; lyric is not “the singer”. Do not cite a fan wiki as the lyric.

Meaning

The words of a song (often lyrics); also a short poem expressing feeling.

Examples

• “Quote a lyric as a primary text, not a fan-wiki paraphrase.”
• “The paper asked whether the extract was lyric or narrative verse, which is the poetry sense.”

Good to know

a lyric; lyrics (song words); lyric poetry. Wider: verse. Trap: lyre. Music, English, and media. Words of a song or a personal poem, not the performer.

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