a style of jazz piano music, developed by Scott Joplin around 1900, having a two-four rhythm base and a syncopated melody
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
rag•time /ˈrægˌtaɪm/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Music and Danceinstrumental jazz marked by syncopated melody and a steadily accented beat in the bass.
rag•time
(rag′tīm′),USA pronunciation n. [Music.]
rag′time′y, adj.
Rag•time (rag′tīm′),USA pronunciation n.
- Music and Dancerhythm in which the accompaniment is strict two-four time and the melody, with improvised embellishments, is in steady syncopation.
- Music and Dancea style of American music having this rhythm, popular from about 1890 to 1915.
- probably rag(ged) + time 1895–1900
Rag•time (rag′tīm′),USA pronunciation n.
- Literaturea novel (1975) by E. L. Doctorow.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'ragtime' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Jazz Age
- Joplin
- New Orleans style
- honky-tonk
- one-step
- rag
- ricky-tick
- shimmy
- skiffle
- stride piano
- turkey trot