Adjacent Words

Chord definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CHORD, n.
1. The string of a musical instrument.
2. In music, the union of two or more sounds uttered at the same time, forming an entire harmony; as a third, fifth and eighth, which are perfect chords, or consonancies. The fourth and sixth are imperfect chords.
3. In geometry, a right line drawn or supposed to extend from one end of an arch of a circle to the other. Hence the chord of an arch is a right line joining the extremities of that arch.
CHORD, v.t. To string.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a straight line connecting two points on a curve
2: a combination of three or more notes that blend harmoniously when sounded together v
1: play chords on (a string instrument)
2: bring into consonance, harmony, or accord while making music or singing [syn: harmonize, harmonise, chord]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: alteration of Middle English cord, short for accord Date: 1608 three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously II. verb Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. accord 2. to play chords especially on a stringed instrument transitive verb 1. to make chords on 2. harmonize III. noun Etymology: alteration of ¹cord Date: 1543 1. cord 3a 2. a straight line segment joining and included between two points on a circle; broadly a straight line joining two points on a curve 3. an individual emotion or disposition <struck a responsive chord> 4. either of the two outside members of a truss connected and braced by the web members 5. the straight line distance joining the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil

Britannica Concise

Grouping of three or more musical tones, especially as sounded simultaneously. The tones C-E-G constitute a "C major chord," or "C major triad." Chords may comprise any number of separate tones, and may be highly dissonant (see consonance and dissonance). The term harmony is often used loosely as a synonym.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. Mus. a group of (usu. three or more) notes sounded together, as a basis of harmony. Derivatives: chordal adj. Etymology: orig. cord f. ACCORD: later confused with CHORD(2) 2. n. 1 Math. & Aeron. etc. a straight line joining the ends of an arc, the wings of an aeroplane, etc. 2 Anat. = CORD. 3 poet. the string of a harp etc. 4 Engin. one of the two principal members, usu. horizontal, of a truss. Phrases and idioms: strike a chord 1 recall something to a person's memory. 2 elicit sympathy. touch the right chord appeal skilfully to the emotions. Derivatives: chordal adj. Etymology: 16th-c. refashioning of CORD after L chorda

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

(c) (Mach.) Any collection and arrangement in a condensed form of many particulars or values, for ready reference, as of weights, measures, currency, specific gravities, etc.; also, a series of numbers following some law, and expressing particular values corresponding to certain other numbers on which they depend, and by means of which they are taken out for use in computations; as, tables of logarithms, sines, tangents, squares, cubes, etc.; annuity tables; interest tables; astronomical tables, etc. (d) (Palmistry) The arrangement or disposition of the lines which appear on the inside of the hand. Mistress of a fairer table Hath not history for fable. --B. Jonson. 5. An article of furniture, consisting of a flat slab, board, or the like, having a smooth surface, fixed horizontally on legs, and used for a great variety of purposes, as in eating, writing, or working. We may again Give to our tables meat. --Shak. The nymph the table spread. --Pope. 6. Hence, food placed on a table to be partaken of; fare; entertainment; as, to set a good table. 7. The company assembled round a table. I drink the general joy of the whole table. --Shak. 8. (Anat.) One of the two, external and internal, layers of compact bone, separated by diplo["e], in the walls of the cranium. 9. (Arch.) A stringcourse which includes an offset; esp., a band of stone, or the like, set where an offset is required, so as to make it decorative. See Water table. 10. (Games) (a) The board on the opposite sides of which backgammon and draughts are played. (b) One of the divisions of a backgammon board; as, to play into the right-hand table. (c) pl. The games of backgammon and of draughts. [Obs.] --Chaucer. This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice, That, when he plays at tables, chides the dice. --Shak. 11. (Glass Manuf.) A circular plate of crown glass. A circular plate or table of about five feet diameter weighs on an average nine pounds. --Ure. 12. (Jewelry) The upper flat surface of a diamond or other precious stone, the sides of which are cut in angles. 13. (Persp.) A plane surface, supposed to be transparent and perpendicular to the horizon; -- called also perspective plane. 14. (Mach.) The part of a machine tool on which the work rests and is fastened. Bench table, Card table, Communion table, Lord's table, etc. See under Bench, Card, etc. Raised table (Arch. & Sculp.), a raised or projecting member of a flat surface, large in proportion to the projection, and usually rectangular, -- especially intended to receive an inscription or the like. Roller table (Horology), a flat disk on the arbor of the balance of a watch, holding the jewel which rolls in and out of the fork at the end of the lever of the escapement. Round table. See Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction. Table anvil, a small anvil to be fastened to a table for use in making slight repairs. Table base. (Arch.) Same as Water table. Table bed, a bed in the form of a table. Table beer, beer for table, or for common use; small beer. Table bell, a small bell to be used at table for calling servants. Table cover, a cloth for covering a table, especially at other than mealtimes. Table diamond, a thin diamond cut with a flat upper surface. Table linen, linen tablecloth, napkins, and the like. Table money (Mil. or Naut.), an allowance sometimes made to officers over and above their pay, for table expenses. Table rent (O. Eng. Law), rent paid to a bishop or religious, reserved or appropriated to his table or housekeeping. --Burrill. Table shore (Naut.), a low, level shore. Table talk, conversation at table, or at meals. Table talker, one who talks at table. Table tipping, Table turning, certain movements of tables, etc., attributed by some to the agency of departed spirits, and by others to the development of latent vital or spriritual forces, but more commonly ascribed to the muscular force of persons in connection with the objects moved, or to physical force applied otherwise. Tables of a girder or chord (Engin.), the upper and lower horizontal members. To lay on the table, in parliamentary usage, to lay, as a report, motion, etc., on the table of the presiding officer, -- that is, to postpone the consideration of, by a vote. To serve tables (Script.), to provide for the poor, or to distribute provisions for their wants. --Acts vi. 2. To turn the tables, to change the condition or fortune of contending parties; -- a metaphorical expression taken from the vicissitudes of fortune in gaming. Twelve tables (Rom. Antiq.), a celebrated body of Roman laws, framed by decemvirs appointed 450 years before Christ, on the return of deputies or commissioners who had been sent to Greece to examine into foreign laws and institutions. They consisted partly of laws transcribed from the institutions of other nations, partly of such as were altered and accommodated to the manners of the Romans, partly of new provisions, and mainly, perhaps, of laws and usages under their ancient kings. --Burrill.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Chord Chord, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chorded; p. pr. & vb. n. Chording.] To provide with musical chords or strings; to string; to tune. When Jubal struck the chorded shell. --Dryden. Even the solitary old pine tree chords his harp. --Beecher.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Chord Chord, v. i. (Mus.) To accord; to harmonize together; as, this note chords with that.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Chord Chord, n. [L chorda a gut, a string made of a gut, Gr. ?. In the sense of a string or small rope, in general, it is written cord. See Cord.] 1. The string of a musical instrument. --Milton. 2. (Mus.) A combination of tones simultaneously performed, producing more or less perfect harmony, as, the common chord. 3. (Geom.) A right line uniting the extremities of the arc of a circle or curve. 4. (Anat.) A cord. See Cord, n., 4. 5. (Engin.) The upper or lower part of a truss, usually horizontal, resisting compression or tension. --Waddell. Accidental, Common, & Vocal chords. See under Accidental, Common, and Vocal. Chord of an arch. See Illust. of Arch. Chord of curvature, a chord drawn from any point of a curve, in the circle of curvature for that point. Scale of chords. See Scale.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(chords) 1. A chord is a number of musical notes played or sung at the same time with a pleasing effect. ...the opening chords of 'Stairway to Heaven'. N-COUNT see also vocal cords 2. If something strikes a chord with you, it makes you feel sympathy or enthusiasm. Mr Jenkins' arguments for stability struck a chord with Europe's two most powerful politicians... PHRASE: V inflects

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. String (of a musical instrument). 2. Harmonious tones. 3. Harmony. 4. (Geom.) Right line uniting the extremities of an arc.

Moby Thesaurus

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