SYNCOPATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does syncopation mean? 

• SYNCOPATION (noun)
  The noun SYNCOPATION has 3 senses:

1. (phonology) the loss of sounds from within a word (as in 'fo'c'sle' for 'forecastle')

2. a musical rhythm accenting a normally weak beat

3. music (especially dance music) that has a syncopated rhythm

  Familiarity information: SYNCOPATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SYNCOPATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(phonology) the loss of sounds from within a word (as in 'fo'c'sle' for 'forecastle')

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

syncopation; syncope

Hypernyms ("syncopation" is a kind of...):

articulation (the aspect of pronunciation that involves bringing articulatory organs together so as to shape the sounds of speech)

Domain category:

phonemics; phonology (the study of the sound system of a given language and the analysis and classification of its phonemes)

Derivation:

syncopate (omit a sound or letter in a word)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A musical rhythm accenting a normally weak beat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("syncopation" is a kind of...):

beat; musical rhythm; rhythm (the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music)

Derivation:

syncopate (modify the rhythm by stressing or accenting a weak beat)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Music (especially dance music) that has a syncopated rhythm

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("syncopation" is a kind of...):

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Derivation:

syncopate (modify the rhythm by stressing or accenting a weak beat)