time signature

noun

: a sign used in music to indicate meter and usually written as a fraction with the bottom number indicating the kind of note used as a unit of time and the top number indicating the number of units in each measure

Examples of time signature in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For starters, the time signature moves around a bit. Tom Roland, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2024 Everything is off-balance, including the time signature, which is in 5/4. Nate Jones, Vulture, 20 May 2024 Most of the track is in 5/4 [time signature], which is a very unusual time. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024 Though there are notable variations (the former is in a minor key, for example, and follows a different time signature), the melodies of the main themes are nearly identical. Stephen Cox, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for time signature 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'time signature.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of time signature was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near time signature

Cite this Entry

“Time signature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time%20signature. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

time signature

noun
: a sign used to indicate musical meter and usually written with one number above another with the bottom number indicating the kind of note used as a unit of time and the top number indicating the number of these units in each measure

More from Merriam-Webster on time signature

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!