music theory

noun

The field of study dealing with how music works, typically examining the language and notation of music, the patterns and structures in composers' techniques, and so on.

Similar
musical theorytheory of music
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Meanings

nounmusic theory (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe field of study dealing with how music works, typically examining the language and notation of music, the patterns and structures in composers' techniques, and so on.

    Synonyms: musical theory, theory of music

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe field of study dealing with how music works, typically examining the language and notation of music, the patterns and structures in composers' techniques, and so on.

Similar
musical theorytheory of music
Also see
musical theorytheory of music

Translations

Bulgarian теория на музиката
  • теория на музиката (teorija na muzikata)field of study dealing with how music works
Chinese Mandarin 音樂理論 /音乐理论, 樂理 /乐理
  • 音樂理論 /音乐理论 (yīnyuè lǐlùn)field of study dealing with how music works
  • 樂理 /乐理 (yuèlǐ)field of study dealing with how music works
Dutch muziektheorie
  • muziektheoriefield of study dealing with how music works
Estonian muusikateooria
  • muusikateooriafield of study dealing with how music works
Finnish musiikinteoria
  • musiikinteoriafield of study dealing with how music works
German Musiktheorie
  • Musiktheoriefield of study dealing with how music works
Hungarian zeneelmélet
  • zeneelméletfield of study dealing with how music works
Icelandic tónfræði
  • tónfræðifield of study dealing with how music works
Irish teoiric an cheoil
  • teoiric an cheoilfield of study dealing with how music works
Italian teoria musicale
  • teoria musicalefield of study dealing with how music works
Japanese 音楽理論
  • 音楽理論 (ongaku riron)field of study dealing with how music works
Malay teori muzik
  • teori muzikfield of study dealing with how music works
Norwegian Bokmål musikkteori
  • musikkteorifield of study dealing with how music works
Portuguese teoria musical, teoria da música
  • teoria musicalfield of study dealing with how music works
  • teoria da músicafield of study dealing with how music works
Romanian teorie muzicală
  • teorie muzicalăfield of study dealing with how music works
Russian тео́рия музыки
  • тео́рия музыки (teórija muzyki)field of study dealing with how music works
Spanish teoría musical
  • teoría musicalfield of study dealing with how music works
Swedish musikteori, musiklära
  • musikteorifield of study dealing with how music works
  • musiklärafield of study dealing with how music works
Vietnamese nhạc lí
  • nhạc lífield of study dealing with how music works
Cite this entry
APA

music theory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/music%20theory

MLA

“music theory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/music%20theory. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “music theory,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/music%20theory.

Source: music theory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.