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View synonyms for harmonic

harmonic

[ hahr-mon-ik ]

adjective

  1. pertaining to harmony, as distinguished from melody and rhythm.
  2. marked by harmony; in harmony; concordant; consonant.
  3. Physics. of, relating to, or noting a series of oscillations in which each oscillation has a frequency that is an integral multiple of the same basic frequency.
  4. Mathematics.
    1. (of a set of values) related in a manner analogous to the frequencies of tones that are consonant.
    2. capable of being represented by sine and cosine functions.
    3. (of a function) satisfying the Laplace equation.


noun

  1. Physics. a single oscillation whose frequency is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency.

harmonic

/ hɑːˈmɒnɪk /

adjective

  1. of, involving, producing, or characterized by harmony; harmonious
  2. music of, relating to, or belonging to harmony
  3. maths
    1. capable of expression in the form of sine and cosine functions
    2. of or relating to numbers whose reciprocals form an arithmetic progression
  4. physics of or concerned with an oscillation that has a frequency that is an integral multiple of a fundamental frequency
  5. physics of or concerned with harmonics


noun

  1. physics music a component of a periodic quantity, such as a musical tone, with a frequency that is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency. The first harmonic is the fundamental, the second harmonic (twice the fundamental frequency) is the first overtone , the third harmonic (three times the fundamental frequency) is the second overtone, etc
  2. music (not in technical use) overtone: in this case, the first overtone is the first harmonic, etc

harmonic

/ här-mŏnĭk /

Noun

  1. Periodic motion whose frequency is a whole-number multiple of some fundamental frequency. The motion of objects or substances that vibrate or oscillate in a regular fashion, such as the strings of musical instruments, can be analyzed as a combination of a fundamental frequency and higher harmonics.
  2. ◆ Harmonics above the first harmonic (the fundamental frequency) in sound waves are called overtones . The first overtone is the second harmonic, the second overtone is the third harmonic, and so on.


Adjective

  1. Related to or having the properties of such periodic motion.

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Derived Forms

  • harˈmonically, adverb

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Other Words From

  • har·moni·cal·ly adverb
  • har·moni·cal·ness noun
  • nonhar·monic adjective
  • unhar·monic adjective
  • unhar·moni·cal·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of harmonic1

1560–70; < Latin harmonicus < Greek harmonikós musical, suitable. See harmony, -ic

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Word History and Origins

Origin of harmonic1

C16: from Latin harmonicus relating to harmony

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Example Sentences

The team used something called a harmonic constant-Q transform to model the structure in pitched sound by harmonic, frequency, and time.

Thanks to its extended low-frequency response, it reproduced a rich and detailed picture of low harmonic information from both instruments.

Page disrupts the pattern in the second bar, moving up to the ninth, and fleshes out the figure with more harmonic support.

“We were about exploration, adventure—harmonic and rhythmic and melodic and more,” Weir says.

To step inside Madison Square Garden was to grab hold of a lifeline to an alternate world of harmonic order and balance.

The music is juvenile stuff—tonic-dominant, without harmonic richness or surprise.

Otherwise the pipes will speak a harmonic instead of the sound intended—as, indeed, frequently happens.

Harmonic Flutes, of double length open pipes, are now utilized by almost all organ builders.

The singing of the choir is pretty exact and melodious; but it is too weak—needs more harmonic energy and general strength.

The melody of the dance music which all along had seeped to them in harmonic murmur from the distant ballroom was now hushed.

Music no less surely does the same through the agency of rhythm, melody, and harmonic texture.

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