chord Hear it!

chord¹ Definition

chord (kôrd)

noun

  1. Archaic the string of a musical instrument
  2. a feeling or emotion thought of as being played on like the string of a harp to strike a sympathetic chord
  3. Aeron.
    1. an imaginary straight line extending directly through an airfoil from the leading to the trailing edge
    2. the length of such a line
  4. Anat. cord (sense )
  5. Engineering a principal horizontal member in a rigid framework, as of a bridge
  6. Geom. a straight line segment joining any two points on an arc, curve, or circumference

Etymology: altered (infl. by L chorda) < cord

chord² Definition

chord (kôrd)

noun

Music a combination of three or more tones sounded together in harmony

Etymology: altered (infl. by L chorda) < ME cord, aphetic < accord, accord

intransitive verb, transitive verb

  1. to harmonize
  2. to play chords on (a piano, guitar, etc.)

chord² Related Forms

chordal adjective

chord Synonyms

chord

n.

harmonizing tones, triad, octave; second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth; major, minor, diminished, augmented, inverted, broken, primary, secondary, tertiary, tetrachord, perfect fourth, arpeggio, first inversion, second inversion, common chord; see also harmony 1, music 1.

chord Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • strike: We seemed to strike a chord with the younger people.
  • strum: For example, with an acoustic guitar, I'll just strum a chord mostly.
  • chime: And then words did ring forth from her, from him, chiming together perfect chords.
  • descend: But the last line of the first solo, I believe, is a three-part descending augmented chord.

Adjective modifier

  • vocal: My vocal chords were removed due to cancer over 11 years ago.
  • augmented: Itâs a well-crafted song with good use of an augmented fifth chord to add interest to the music.
  • diminished: Students ought to double the 3rd of a diminished chord.
  • dissonant: Is this a dissonant chord, or just wrong?
  • umbilical: You don't cut off the umbilical chord to the weekly pay check.
  • spinal: This means that you must not move the spinal column relative to any part of the body in case you damage the spinal chord.

Modifies a noun

  • progression: Indeed, the ' theme ' is the chord progression itself.
  • voicing: Left and right hand techniques and chord voicings are thoroughly discussed.
  • symbol: Arranged for solo melody line instruments with chord symbols in concert pitch.
  • sequence: Play licks which follow the chord sequence of the tune.
  • accompaniment: Three melody parts and a chord accompaniment from chord symbols.
  • diagram: With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams.

Noun used with modifier

  • barre: When I first learned to make barre chords I had a rough time making all six strings sound clear.
  • guitar: The melody lines with the guitar chords are also printed at the back of the book.
  • piano: I joined in with dark, soothing piano chords.
  • jazz: No jazz chords, only three chords per song.

Browse dictionary entries near chord

  1. chorale
  2. choral speaking
  3. choral
  4. choragus
  5. chopsticks
  6. chopsocky
  7. chops
  8. choppy
  9. chopping block
  10. chopper
  1. chordate
  2. chore
  3. chorea
  4. choreograph
  5. choreography
  6. choriamb
  7. choric
  8. chorine
  9. chorioallantois
  10. chorioid