3 ADJ Someone who is musical has a natural ability and interest in music. □ I came from a musical family.
4 ADJ Sounds that are musical are light and pleasant to hear. □ He had a soft, almost musical voice.
mu |si|cal box (musical boxes ) N‑COUNT A musical box is the same as a music box . [BRIT ]
mu |si|cal chai rs
1 N‑UNCOUNT Musical chairs is a game that children play at parties. They run round a row of chairs while music plays and try to sit down on one when the music stops.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you describe the situation within a particular organization or area of activity as musical chairs , you are critical of the fact that people in that organization or area exchange jobs or positions very often. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It was musical chairs. Creative people would switch jobs just to get more money.
mu |si|cal com|edy (musical comedies ) N‑VAR Musical comedy is a type of play or film that has singing and dancing as part of the story and that is humorous and entertaining, especially one written before the middle of the twentieth century.
mu |si|cal di|rec|tor (musical directors ) N‑COUNT A musical director is the same as a music director .
mu |si|cal i n|stru|ment (musical instruments ) N‑COUNT A musical instrument is an object such as a piano, guitar, or violin which you play in order to produce music. □ The drum is one of the oldest musical instruments.
mu |sic box (music boxes ) N‑COUNT A music box is a box that plays a tune when you open the lid.
mu |sic di|rec|tor (music directors ) N‑COUNT The music director of an orchestra or other group of musicians is the person who decides what they will play and where, and usually conducts them as well.
mu |sic hall (music halls ) also music-hall
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Music hall was a popular form of entertainment in the theatre in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. It consisted of a series of performances by comedians, singers, and dancers. [mainly BRIT ] □ …an old music hall song. in AM, usually use vaudeville 2 N‑COUNT A music hall was a theatre that presented popular entertainment. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use vaudeville theater
mu|si|cian ◆◇◇ /mjuːz I ʃ ə n/ (musicians ) N‑COUNT A musician is a person who plays a musical instrument as their job or hobby. □ …one of Britain's best known rock musicians.
mu|si|cian|ship /mjuːz I ʃ ə nʃ I p/ N‑UNCOUNT Musicianship is the skill involved in performing music. □ Her musicianship is excellent.
mu |sic stand (music stands ) N‑COUNT A music stand is a device that holds pages of music in position while you play a musical instrument.
musk /mʌ sk/ N‑UNCOUNT Musk is a substance with a strong smell which is used in making perfume.
mus|ket /mʌ sk I t/ (muskets ) N‑COUNT A musket was an early type of gun with a long barrel, which was used before rifles were invented.
musky /mʌ ski/ ADJ A musky smell is strong, warm, and sweet. □ She dabbed a drop of the musky perfume behind each ear.
Mus|lim ◆◆◇ /mʊ zl I m, muː s-, [AM ] mʌ z-/ (Muslims )
1 N‑COUNT A Muslim is someone who believes in Islam and lives according to its rules.
2 ADJ Muslim means relating to Islam or Muslims. □ …Iran and other Muslim countries.
mus|lin /mʌ zl I n/ (muslins ) N‑VAR Muslin is very thin cotton cloth. □ …white muslin curtains.
muso /mjuː zoʊ/ (musos )
1 N‑COUNT A muso is a musician. [INFORMAL ] □ …country muso Shania Twain.
2 ADJ Muso means the same as musical . [INFORMAL ] □ Members of this close-knit muso community are always helping each other out.
muss /mʌ s/ (musses , mussing , mussed ) VERB To muss something, especially someone's hair, or to muss it up , means to make it untidy. [mainly AM ] □ [V n] He reached out and mussed my hair. □ [be V -ed up ] His clothes were all mussed up.
mus|sel /mʌ s ə l/ (mussels ) N‑COUNT Mussels are a kind of shellfish that you can eat from their shells.
must ◆◆◆ /məst, STRONG mʌst/ (musts ) The noun is pronounced /mʌ st/. Must is a modal verb. It is followed by the base form of a verb. 1 MODAL You use must to indicate that you think it is very important or necessary for something to happen. You use must not or mustn't to indicate that you think it is very important or necessary for something not to happen. □ What you wear should be stylish and clean, and must definitely fit well. □ The doctor must not allow the patient to be put at risk.
2 MODAL You use must to indicate that it is necessary for something to happen, usually because of a rule or law. □ Candidates must satisfy the general conditions for admission. □ Equipment must be supervised if children are in the house.
3 MODAL You use must , or must have with a past participle, to indicate that you are fairly sure that something is the case. □ At 29, Russell must be one of the youngest-ever Wembley referees. □ I'm sure he must feel he has lost a close family friend, because I know I do. □ I must have been a bore.
4 MODAL You use must , or must have with a past participle, to indicate that you believe that something is the case, because of the available evidence. □ 'You must be Emma,' said the visitor. □ Miss Holloway had a weak heart. She must have had a heart attack.