cadences

Noun

cadence (countable and uncountable, plural cadences)

1. The act or state of declining or sinking.
   • Now was the sun in western cadence low.1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...
2. The measure or beat of movement.
   • Getting into a good jigging rhythm means making short quick jerks in a regular cadence that might average about one jerk every 1.5 to 2 seconds.1993, Ken Schultz, “Terror of the deep”, in Field and Stream, volume 98, number 5, page 102
3. Balanced, rhythmic flow.
   • You find not the apostrophas, and so miss the accent:
     let me supervise the canzonet. Here are only numbers ratified;
     but, for the elegancy, facility, and golden cadence of poesy,
     caret.c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
4. The general inflection or modulation of the voice, or of any sound.
   • Blustering winds, which all night long / Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull / Seafaring men o'erwatched.1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...
5. A progression of at least two chords which conclude a piece of music, section or musical phrases within it. Sometimes referred to analogously as musical punctuation.

   Synonyms:

   clausula

6. A cadenza, or closing embellishment; a pause before the end of a strain, which the performer may fill with a flight of fancy.

See all 19 meanings of cadence