Definition

1. Noun:

   • A piece of music sung or played outdoors at night, typically by a man to a woman he loves: A romantic song or instrumental composition performed, often at night, beneath the window of a beloved person.
   • A musical composition in several movements, often for a small orchestra: A light, multi-movement instrumental work, similar to a suite or divertimento, intended for evening entertainment.

2. Verb:

   • To perform a serenade for someone: To sing or play music for someone, especially in a romantic context, often outdoors at night.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The young man played a beautiful serenade on his guitar beneath her balcony.
  • Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" is a famous serenade for strings.

• Verb:

  • He serenaded his girlfriend with a love song.
  • She was serenaded by a group of musicians on her birthday.

Advanced Usage

• "to be serenaded by": To have someone perform a serenade for you.
  • The actress was serenaded by fans outside her hotel.
• "midnight serenade": A serenade performed at midnight, emphasizing its romantic and nocturnal nature.
  • He planned a midnight serenade as a marriage proposal.

Variants and Related Words

• Serenader (n): A person who performs a serenade.
  • The serenader stood in the moonlight with his violin.

Synonyms

• Noun: Nocturne, evening song, love song.
• Verb: Court (with music), sing to, play for.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• "to give someone a serenade": To perform a serenade for someone.
  • For their anniversary, he decided to give her a serenade.

Noun

1. a song characteristically played outside the house of a woman
2. a musical composition in several movements; has no fixed form

Verb

1. sing and play for somebody
   • She was serenaded by her admirers