soundtrack

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   All the recorded music, speech and effects that are heard together with the pictures of a film, show or game.

   Grammar: Takes a plural: the film's soundtracks. Often followed by to or of: the soundtrack to the movie.

   Patterns

   • the soundtrack to something
   • the soundtrack of something

   The soundtrack of the documentary is just waves and seabirds.

   I turned the volume up so I could hear the explosions on the soundtrack.

   The game's soundtrack changes whenever a fight begins.

2. 2nouncountable

   A collection of the songs or music from a film or series, sold as an album.

   Grammar: Usually follows the, with to naming the work: the soundtrack to the series.

   Patterns

   • the soundtrack to something
   • a soundtrack album

   She bought the soundtrack to the musical and played it all summer.

   The soundtrack topped the album charts for six weeks.

3. 3nounsingularfigurative

   The music or sounds that you connect with a particular time or experience in your life.

   Grammar: Used figuratively and normally followed by of: the soundtrack of my youth.

   Patterns

   • the soundtrack of something

   Those old records were the soundtrack of my teenage years.

   Traffic and street vendors made up the soundtrack of our trip to Cairo.

Word forms

Common combinations

a film soundtrack

The film soundtrack was recorded by a full orchestra.

an original soundtrack

The original soundtrack features songs written just for the show.

compose a soundtrack

He was hired to compose a soundtrack for the short film.

a soundtrack album

The soundtrack album sold more copies than the movie tickets.

play on the soundtrack

A slow piano melody plays on the soundtrack during the final scene.

Synonyms and how they differ

score

Score means only the music written for a film, while soundtrack can also include songs, dialogue and sound effects.

theme music

Theme music is one recurring tune that identifies a show, whereas a soundtrack covers everything heard in it.

background music

Background music is quiet and unnoticed by design, but a soundtrack may be loud and central to the experience.

Word family

sound noun

anything that can be heard

track noun

a single song or piece on a recording

soundtrack verb

to provide a film or scene with music (rare)

Commonly confused: soundtrack or score?

Practice

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