First Known Use: 1649
Dictionary
1serenade
noun ser·e·nade \ˌser-ə-ˈnād\
: a love song that is sung or played outdoors at night for a woman
Full Definition of SERENADE
1
a : a complimentary vocal or instrumental performance; especially : one given outdoors at night for a woman being courted b : a work so performed
2
: an instrumental composition in several movements, written for a small ensemble, and midway between the suite and the symphony in style
See serenade defined for English-language learners
See serenade defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of SERENADE
French sérénade, from Italian serenata, from sereno clear, calm (of weather), from Latin serenus serene
Other Music Terms
Rhymes with SERENADE
accolade, Adelaide, ambuscade, aquacade, balustrade, barricade, cable-laid, cannonade, carronade, cavalcade, centigrade, chambermaid, chiffonade, colonnade, countertrade, custom-made, dairymaid, defilade, enfilade, escalade, escapade, esplanade, everglade, foreign aid, fusillade, gallopade, gasconade, grant-in-aid, hawser-laid, hearing aid, intergrade, legal aid, lemonade, marinade, marmalade, masquerade, meter maid, motorcade, orangeade, orthograde, overtrade, palisade, panty raid, pasquinade, plantigrade, promenade, ready-made, renegade, retrograde, stock-in-trade, tailor-made, underlaid, visual aid
2serenade
verb
: to sing or play a serenade for (someone)
serenad·edserenad·ing
Full Definition of SERENADE
intransitive verb
: to play a serenade
transitive verb
: to perform a serenade in honor of
— ser·e·nad·er noun
See serenade defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SERENADE
1668
SERENADING Defined for Kids
1serenade
noun ser·e·nade \ˌser-ə-ˈnād\
Definition of SERENADE for Kids
: music sung or played at night for a woman
2serenade
verb
ser·e·nad·edser·e·nad·ing
Definition of SERENADE for Kids
: to entertain (a woman) with music sung or played at night
Learn More About SERENADE
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up serenade? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).