HARMONIC
Dictionary entry overview: What does harmonic mean?
• HARMONIC (noun)
The noun HARMONIC has 2 senses:
1. a tone that is a component of a complex sound
2. any of a series of musical tones whose frequencies are integral multiples of the frequency of a fundamental
Familiarity information: HARMONIC used as a noun is rare.
• HARMONIC (adjective)
The adjective HARMONIC has 5 senses:
1. of or relating to harmony as distinct from melody and rhythm
2. of or relating to harmonics
3. of or relating to the branch of acoustics that studies the composition of musical sounds
4. relating to vibrations that occur as a result of vibrations in a nearby body
5. involving or characterized by harmony
Familiarity information: HARMONIC used as an adjective is common.
Dictionary entry details
• HARMONIC (noun)
Meaning:
A tone that is a component of a complex sound
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("harmonic" is a kind of...):
pure tone; tone (a steady sound without overtones)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "harmonic"):
first harmonic; fundamental; fundamental frequency (the lowest tone of a harmonic series)
overtone; partial; partial tone (a harmonic with a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency)
Meaning:
Any of a series of musical tones whose frequencies are integral multiples of the frequency of a fundamental
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("harmonic" is a kind of...):
quality; timber; timbre; tone ((music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound))
• HARMONIC (adjective)
Meaning:
Of or relating to harmony as distinct from melody and rhythm
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Context example:
subtleties of harmonic change and tonality
Antonym:
nonharmonic (not harmonic)
Pertainym:
harmony (the structure of music with respect to the composition and progression of chords)
Meaning:
Of or relating to harmonics
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Pertainym:
harmonic (any of a series of musical tones whose frequencies are integral multiples of the frequency of a fundamental)
Meaning:
Of or relating to the branch of acoustics that studies the composition of musical sounds
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Context example:
the sound of the resonating cavity cannot be the only determinant of the harmonic response
Pertainym:
harmonics (the study of musical sound)
Meaning:
Relating to vibrations that occur as a result of vibrations in a nearby body
Synonyms:
harmonic; sympathetic
Context example:
sympathetic vibration
Similar:
harmonious (musically pleasing)
Meaning:
Involving or characterized by harmony
Synonyms:
in harmony; harmonized; harmonised; harmonical; consonant; harmonic
Similar:
harmonious (musically pleasing)
