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dissonance

 - 3 dictionary results

dis⋅so⋅nance

  [dis-uh-nuhns]
Use dissonance in a Sentence
–noun
1. inharmonious or harsh sound; discord; cacophony.
2. Music.
a. a simultaneous combination of tones conventionally accepted as being in a state of unrest and needing completion.
b. an unresolved, discordant chord or interval. Compare consonance (def. 3).
3. disagreement or incongruity.
Origin:
1565–75; < LL dissonantia, equiv. to disson- (see dissonant ) + -antia -ance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dissonance
dis·so·nance   (dĭs'ə-nəns)   
n.  

  1. A harsh, disagreeable combination of sounds; discord.

  2. Lack of agreement, consistency, or harmony; conflict: "In Vietnam, reality fell away and dissonance between claim and fact filled the void" (Michael Janeway).

  3. Music A combination of tones contextually considered to suggest unrelieved tension and require resolution.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: dis·so·nance
Pronunciation: 'dis-&-n&n(t)s
Function: noun
: inconsistency between the beliefs one holds or between one'sactions and one's beliefs —see COGNITIVE DISSONANCE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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