bach

< /ˈwɪl hɛlm ˈfri dəˌmɑn; German ˈvɪl hɛlm ˈfri dəˌmɑn/, 1710–84, German organists and composers.

noun

1. Welsh a term of friendly address: used esp after a person’s name

verb

1. a variant spelling of batch 1

noun

2. a simple cottage, esp at the seaside

noun

1. Johann Christian (joˈhan ˈkrɪstjan), 11th son of J. S. Bach. 1735–82, German composer, called the English Bach, resident in London from 1762
2. Johann Christoph (ˈkrɪstɔf). 1642–1703, German composer: wrote oratorios, cantatas, and motets, some of which were falsely attributed to J. S. Bach, of whom he was a distant relative
3. Johann Sebastian (joˈhan zeˈbastjan). 1685–1750, German composer: church organist at Arnstadt (1703–07) and Mühlhausen (1707–08); court organist at Weimar (1708–17); musical director for Prince Leopold of Köthen (1717–28); musical director for the city of Leipzig (1728–50). His output was enormous and displays great vigour and invention within the northern European polyphonic tradition. His works include nearly 200 cantatas and oratorios, settings of the Passion according to St John (1723) and St Matthew (1729), the six Brandenburg Concertos (1720–21), the 48 preludes and fugues of the Well-tempered Clavier (completed 1744), and the Mass in B Minor (1733–38)
4. Karl (or Carl) Philipp Emanuel (karl ˈfiːlɪp eˈmaːnuɛl), 3rd son of J. S. Bach. 1714–88, German composer, chiefly of symphonies, keyboard sonatas, and church music
5. Wilhelm Friedemann (ˈvɪlhɛlm ˈfriːdəman), eldest son of J. S. Bach. 1710–84, German composer: wrote nine symphonies and much keyboard and religious music

n.

1845, American English, clipped form of bachelor (n.). Also in colloquial American English use as a verb (1870) meaning “to live as an unmarried man,” especially “to do one’s own cooking and cleaning.” Related: Bached; baching.