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Glite Dictionary
Lester Young

Lester Young

5.6
An American jazz tenor saxophone player with a smooth style and great influence
  • proper noun
  • /ˈlɛstər jʌŋ/
translation icon : Lester Young
  • The smooth phrasing of Lester Young influenced generations of saxophone players.

Examples

  • Many jazz enthusiasts regard Lester Young as one of the most innovative saxophonists of the 20th century.

  • I listened to a classic recording featuring Lester Young with the Count Basie Orchestra.

  • Lester Young is amazing.

  • I love Lester Young!

  • I listened to a classic recording featuring Lester Young with the Count Basie Orchestra.

  • Many jazz enthusiasts regard Lester Young as one of the most innovative saxophonists of the 20th century.

  • The smooth phrasing of Lester Young influenced generations of saxophone players.

Synonyms

prez
vsLester Young
  • Informal
15 9.9

A nickname for the jazz saxophone player Lester Young

is the formal full name used in biographies and scholarly contexts

Surface Forms

Lester Young main

Morphology

Lester + Young

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person (a jazz saxophonist); the meanings of the constituents 'Lester' and 'young' do not combine to yield that biographical information. At best a learner might guess it is a person's name, but they cannot infer the referent's identity or profession from the literal words, so the expression is not compositional for B1 learners.

Etymology

Lester Young was an American jazz sax player known for a very smooth, relaxed sound, and singer Billie Holiday nicknamed him 'Prez' as a sign of respect. Picture him in a hat, playing softly while everyone listens—this calm image explains why he is famous and why musicians still copy his style today.