{ } n. [ It. serenata. See Serenade. ] (Mus.) A piece of vocal music, especially one on an amoreus subject; a serenade. [ 1913 Webster ]

Or serenate, which the starved lover sings
To his pround fair. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name serenata was given by Italian composers in the time of Handel, and by Handel himself, to a cantata of a pastoreal of dramatic character, to a secular ode, etc.; also by Mozart and others to an orchectral composition, in several movements, midway between the suite of an earlier period and the modern symphony. Grove. [ 1913 Webster ]