dissonant

The definition of dissonant is things that don't go well together or things that are not harmonious.

(adjective)

The sound that occurs when you play two cords on the piano that don't sound good together is an example of something that would be described as dissonant.

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See dissonant in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. characterized by or constituting a dissonance; discordant
  2. opposing in opinion, temperament, etc.; incompatible; incongruous

Related Forms:

See dissonant in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Harsh and inharmonious in sound; discordant.
  2. Being at variance; disagreeing.
  3. Music Constituting or producing a dissonance.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English dissonaunt

Origin: , from Old French dissonant

Origin: , from Latin dissonāns, dissonant-

Origin: , present participle of dissonāre, to be dissonant

Origin: : dis-, apart; see dis- 

Origin: + sonāre, to sound; see swen- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • disˈso·nant·ly adverb

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