quartet
B2Neutral to formal. Common in musical, academic, and literary contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A group of four musicians, singers, or other performers, or a piece of music written for four performers.
Any group or set of four persons or things; specifically used for four people or things considered as a unit. In fiction, can refer to a story with four main characters.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily countable. Can refer to both the group of performers (the personnel) and the musical composition itself (the piece).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning and usage are identical in both varieties.
Connotations
In classical music contexts, 'quartet' often implicitly means 'string quartet' unless specified otherwise.
Frequency
Equally common and used in the same contexts in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[noun] + of + [plural noun] (a quartet of singers)the [adjective] quartet (the resident quartet)play/performed by/with a quartetVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Quartet of doom (colloquial for any problematic four individuals or groups)”
- “Final quartet (the last four competitors in a contest)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Can be used metaphorically for a group of four companies, products, or executives working in tandem (e.g., 'the leadership quartet').
Academic
Used in musicology and history. Also used to describe a set of four related texts, theories, or historical figures.
Everyday
Used to describe a group of four friends, family members, or colleagues doing something together.
Technical
In music, specific to ensembles of four. In computing, rarely used for a group of four related data elements.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The group will quartet at the festival next summer.
American English
- The band decided to quartet for this special performance.
adjective
British English
- The quartet performance was outstanding.
American English
- They are a quartet act, not a solo artist.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like the music of the string quartet.
- They are a quartet of friends.
- The jazz quartet will perform at the town hall tonight.
- A quartet of novels completed the author's famous series.
- The quartet's interpretation of the piece was both nuanced and powerful.
- The research was conducted by an international quartet of scientists.
- The geopolitical quartet of nations held delicate negotiations for months.
- His late string quartets are considered pinnacles of the chamber music repertoire.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'quart' in 'quartet' — a 'quart' is a quarter of a gallon, and a 'quartet' is a group of four, which is like a musical 'quarter'.
Conceptual Metaphor
HARMONY AS ORDER. A quartet is often used metaphorically for any well-coordinated, balanced group of four elements (e.g., 'a quartet of seasons' suggesting perfect sequence and balance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'квартет' — it is a direct and correct cognate. However, be aware that in Russian, 'квартет' is almost exclusively musical, while in English the extended meaning (any group of four) is more common.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'quartet' for a group of three or five (common learner error due to similarity to 'trio' or 'quintet').
- Using as an uncountable noun (*'I listened to quartet').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common musical implication of the word 'quartet' alone?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its origin and most frequent use is musical, it can refer to any group of four people or things (e.g., a quartet of detectives).
'Quartet' often implies a formal or performing group, while 'foursome' is more informal and often used for people playing a game or socialising.
It is very rare and considered non-standard or jargon (used mainly in the performing arts world). The normal verb would be 'to perform as a quartet'.
The string quartet (two violins, viola, cello) and the barbershop quartet (four a cappella singers in close harmony) are culturally iconic forms.