quartet

noun

quar·​tet kwȯr-ˈtet 

variants or less commonly quartette

1

: a musical composition for four instruments or voices

2

: a group or set of four

especially : the performers of a quartet

Examples of quartet in a Sentence

He is a member of a jazz quartet.

a string quartet by Beethoven

The author wrote a quartet of novels about the same character.

Recent Examples on the Web

The quartet was then to make their way to geosynchronous orbit, a circular path 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024

The quartet is back on the music charts in the United Kingdom this week, and with more than one tune. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

The quartet is best suited for cream and powder formulas (think setting powder blush, cream contour, and eyeshadow). —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 13 Dec. 2024

And until Makai Lemon emerged down the stretch, finishing with a team-leading 665 yards, none of USC’s vaunted quartet of sophomores took steps forward they were expected to make. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian quartetto, from quarto fourth, from Latin quartus — more at quart

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing quartet

• barbershop quartet
• string quartet

Kids Definition

quartet

noun

quar·​tet

variants also quartette

kwȯr-ˈtet 

1

a

: a musical composition for four instruments or voices

b

: the performers of a quartet

2

: a group or set of four