Definition

1. Noun:
   • A musical composition for four performers: A piece of music written for four voices or instruments.
   • A group of four people or things considered as a unit: Any set of four persons or items that form a complete group.
   • A set of four performers or singers who perform together: Specifically, a group of four musicians who play or sing together as an ensemble.
   • The cardinal number four: The number that is the sum of three and one.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The composer wrote a beautiful quartet for two violins, a viola, and a cello.
  • The final quartet of the opera is considered one of the most powerful moments.
  • A quartet of experts was assembled to review the case.
  • The famous string quartet will perform at the concert hall tonight.

Advanced Usage

• "In quartet": As a group of four; performed by four people.
  • The piece is written to be played in quartet.
• "Form a quartet": To come together to create a group of four performers.
  • The four friends decided to form a jazz quartet.

Variants and Related Words

• Quartette: An alternative, less common spelling of "quartet."
  • The program listed the piece as a quartette for piano and strings.
• Quad: (Informal) A group of four; often used in contexts like housing ("a quad room") or motorcycles ("a quad bike").
• Foursome: A group of four people, often used in the context of games like golf.
  • They made up a foursome for the tennis match.

Synonyms

• Foursome: A group of four people.
• Tetralogy: A series of four related works (common in literature or drama).
• Quadruplet: One of four children born at one birth.

Related Phrases

• String quartet: A specific and common ensemble consisting of two violins, a viola, and a cello, or a piece written for this group.
  • Beethoven's late string quartets are masterpieces.
• Barbershop quartet: A specific style of a cappella singing performed by a group of four voices (tenor, lead, baritone, bass).
  • He sings tenor in a barbershop quartet.

Related Idioms

• (To be) a quartet of...: Used to describe a notable or representative group of four things.
  • The report highlighted a quartet of major economic challenges.

Noun

1. a musical composition for four performers
2. four people considered as a unit
   • he joined a barbershop quartet
   • the foursome teed off before 9 a.m.
3. a set of four similar things considered as a unit
4. four performers or singers who perform together
5. the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one