chromatic Hear it!

chromatic definition

chro·matic (krō mat′ik)

adjective

  1. of color or having color or colors
  2. highly colored
  3. Biol. readily stained
  4. Music
    1. using or progressing by semitones a chromatic scale
    2. producing all the tones of such a scale a chromatic instrument
    3. using tones not in the key of a work chromatic harmony

Etymology: LL chromaticus < Gr chrōmatikos, suited for color: see chroma & -atic

noun

Music a tone modified by an accidental

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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