| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
Ad lib (or ad-lib) are terms relating to its Latin meaning, ad libitum for "at liberty". Ad lib is the adjective or adverb, ad-lib is the verb or noun form.
Most commonly, in drama, the quick-witted invention of dialogue to cover a performer's memory lapse would be an example of an ad-lib. Or, a director might encourage performers to ad-lib in a particular show. (The term ad-lib usually refers to the interpolation of unscripted material in an otherwise scripted performance. When the entire performance is grounded in spontaneous creation, the process is usually called improvisation).
Live performers such as television talk-show hosts sometimes enhance their reputation for wit by the delivery of material that sounds ad-libbed but is actually scripted, and may employ ad-lib writers to prepare such material.
In music, the term ad lib is used in a similar way to mean an improvised passage. It is also an instruction found in sheet musicMusical notation Sheet music is musical notation written down on paper; it is the musical analog of a book. Reading sheet music is the standard way to learn and perform a piece in some cultures and styles of music. In western classical music, it is very r; see ad libitum.
Medical prescriptionA medical prescription ( is a written order by a medical doctor to a pharmacist for a treatment to be provided to the doctor's patient. Format and definition Prescriptions are typically handwritten on preprinted prescription forms that are assembled intos may use the abbreviation ad lib. to indicate "freely" or that as much as one desires should be used. Latin phrases