philharmonic

UK: /ˌfɪlɑː^rˈmɒnɪk/

US: /ˌfɪlhɑrˈmɑnɪk, ˌfɪlɚ-/

US: (fil′här mon′ik, fil′ər-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

phil•har•mon•ic /ˌfɪlhɑrˈmɑnɪk, ˌfɪlɚ-/  n. [countable]

1. Music and Dance a symphony orchestra.

See -phil-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

phil•har•mon•ic  (fil′här mon′ik, fil′ər-), adj. 

1. Music and Dance fond of or devoted to music;
   music-loving: used esp. in the name of certain musical societies that sponsor symphony orchestras (Philharmon′ic Soci′eties) and hence applied to their concerts (phil′harmon′ic con′certs.)
2. Music and Dance of, noting, or presented by a symphony orchestra or the society sponsoring it.

n. 

3. Music and Dance a symphony orchestra or the society sponsoring it.

• 1755–65; phil- + harmonic; modeled on French philharmonique or Italian filarmonico

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

philharmonic / ˌfɪlhɑːˈmɒnɪk ˌfɪlə-/ adjective

1. fond of music
2. (capital when part of a name) denoting an orchestra, choir, society, etc, devoted to the performance, appreciation, and study of music

noun

1. (capital when part of a name) a specific philharmonic choir, orchestra, or society

Etymology: 18th Century: from French philharmonique, from Italian filarmonico music-loving; see philo-, harmony