Definition of "nocturne" []

• A painting of a night scene. (noun)
• An instrumental composition of a pensive, dreamy mood, especially one for the piano. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "A nocturne is a piece of music inspired by, or evocative of, the night ..."
• "Wyn Davies conducts with a panache that locates Lehár's subtler colours – the violin nocturne that precedes the final act is every bit as exquisite as the rambunctious waltz."
• "J Hoberman in the Voice on Tsai Ming-liang's I Don't Want to Sleep Alone, now screening at the IFC Center through Tuesday: Albeit closer to ballet than drama, this urban nocturne is one of Tsai's most beautiful and naturalistic films - at least in terms of its rich, humid, almost viscous ambience."