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Muzak

[ˈmjuːzæk]
noun
música de fundo; música ambiente
1. Unobtrusive background music played in public spaces such as shops, offices, elevators, or restaurants, typically instrumental and designed to create a pleasant atmosphere without demanding active listening
The elevator played soft Muzak while we waited to reach the fifth floor.
O elevador tocava música ambiente suave enquanto esperávamos chegar ao quinto andar.
2. Generic, formulaic, or bland music considered to lack artistic substance or originality
The restaurant's playlist was just Muzak—nothing memorable.
A playlist do restaurante era apenas música de fundo—nada memorável.
NYC Slang
elevator music
Synonyms
background musicambient musicelevator musiccanned music
Antonyms
live musicoriginal musicavant-garde music

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
música de fundo; música ambiente
Most common usage in Brazil
São Paulo
som ambiente
Alternative contemporary usage
Portugal
música de ambiente; música de fundo
Formal usage preferred in Portugal

Related Idioms & Phrases

piped-in music
canned music
easy listening
wallpaper music
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