Ragtime is a kind of jazz piano music that was invented in America in the early 1900s.
ragtime in British English
(ˈræɡˌtaɪm)
noun
a style of jazz piano music, developed by Scott Joplin around 1900, having a two-four rhythm base and a syncopated melody
Word origin
C20: probably from ragged + time
ragtime in American English
(ˈrægˌtaɪm)
US
noun
1.
a type of American music, mostly composed but sometimes improvised, popular from about 1890 to 1920 and characterized by strong syncopation in even time: it was influential in the development of jazz
2.
its syncopated rhythm
Word origin
prob. < ragged time, in reference to syncopation
Examples of 'ragtime' in a sentence
ragtime
"I'm not just talking ragtime here, soldier," John assured him.