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chromatic

Pronunciation: /krəˈmatɪk/

Definition of chromatic

adjective

  • 1 Music relating to or using notes not belonging to the diatonic scale of the key in which a passage is written.
  • (of a scale) ascending or descending by semitones.
  • (of an instrument) able to play all the notes of the chromatic scale: the master of the chromatic harmonica
  • 2relating to or produced by colour.

Derivatives

chromatically

adverb

chromaticism

Pronunciation: /-tɪsɪz(ə)m/

noun

Origin:

early 17th century: from French chromatique or Latin chromaticus, from Greek khrōmatikos, from khrōma, khrōmat- 'colour, chromatic scale'

chromatic in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of chromatic in the US English dictionary