Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- A trademark for background music or television transmitted especially to places of business on a subscription basis.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- proper noun music, trademark Recorded background
music transmitted by wire,radio orcompact disc on a subscription basis to places of business, etc. - proper noun
Easy listening music in general.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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I am well aware that various programs on various stations cover a lot of different types of music, so I put the word "Muzak" in that sentence to absorb the slur a bit.
NPR Topics: News 2011
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Muzak, which is known for its background music in stores, hotels and elevators, sought court protection from creditors last February to restructure maturing debt in the midst of the credit crisis.
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Muzak, which is known for providing background music in stores and hotels, said the plan is supported by a majority of its creditors.
DealBook 2009
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Part of this may be cultural — Korean variety shows certainly display a pleasantly anything-goes aesthetic — but my sense is that merely singing in English semiotically signals a certain kind of Muzak quality within a dramatic context.
Archive 2008-04-01 Matthew Guerrieri 2008
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Part of this may be cultural — Korean variety shows certainly display a pleasantly anything-goes aesthetic — but my sense is that merely singing in English semiotically signals a certain kind of Muzak quality within a dramatic context.
Like sands through the hourglass Matthew Guerrieri 2008
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Now then, I'll just cue up some sexy saxophone "Muzak" for atmosphere...
Archive 2009-04-01 Jen 2009
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Now then, I'll just cue up some sexy saxophone "Muzak" for atmosphere...
Belly Cakes, Continued Jen 2009
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The only exclusive things are some special promo/announcer free digital music channels (at least on DirecTV, not sure about Dish since they already offer Muzak which is promo/announcer free).
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A Google of Muzak turns up the fact that it's been around since the 1930's and was, depending on which spurious bit of Internet research you care to believe, either used to soothe workers who might otherwise revolt, or accompany folks in elevators to quell their fears of plunging to their deaths.
James Napoli: When Songs Attack: Assaulted by Muzak in the 21st Century James Napoli 2011
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Back when I was a wee lad, Muzak was what it was meant to be: wallpaper.
James Napoli: When Songs Attack: Assaulted by Muzak in the 21st Century James Napoli 2011
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