Dean Martin

19 4.2

An American singer and actor who sings in a smooth, relaxed style and does comedy

proper noun
/din ˈmɑrtɪn/

: Dean Martin

Many people still enjoy listening to classic Dean Martin songs like 'That's Amore' and 'Volare'.

Examples

Dean Martin was famous for his relaxed singing style and charismatic performances.
Dean Martin starred in numerous films and television variety shows throughout his career.
Dean Martin was a talented singer.
Many people love Dean Martin for his classic songs.
Dean Martin was a legendary member of the Rat Pack, known for his smooth voice and charm.
Dean Martin captivated audiences with his performances in both music and film during the mid-20th century.
Fans continue to appreciate the timeless hits of Dean Martin, including beloved classics like 'That's Amore'.

Surface Forms

Dean Martin main

Morphology

Dean + Martin

This is a proper name referring to a specific individual, so its referent (an American singer/actor/comedian) cannot be derived from the constituent words. Even if a learner knows 'dean' as a title or 'Martin' as a name, those meanings do not predict the identity or professions of the person, making the expression lexically non-compositional and opaque.

Etymology

Dean Martin was a 'stage name' used by the singer born Dino Crocetti. He chose a short, easy English name to sound more American for show business, so Dean Martin now makes us think of the smooth, relaxed singer and entertainer.