CHORD


Meaning of CHORD in English

I. ˈkȯ(ə)rd, -ȯ(ə)d noun

( -s )

Etymology: alteration (influenced by chord ) (III) of cord, from Middle English, short for accord

: a combination of two or more tones sounded together, especially tones that blend harmoniously because of the simple ratios of their pitch frequencies ; specifically : common chord

II. verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

intransitive verb

1. : to harmonize together : accord

this tone chords with that

also : to sound together in harmony

2. : to play chords on a stringed instrument usually as an accompaniment

when she played something …, Mother chorded for her on the piano — Frances Judge

transitive verb

1. : to make chords on (a musical instrument) by stopping the strings

2. : to furnish (a melody) with chords : harmonize

III. noun

( -s )

Etymology: alteration (influenced by Latin chorda ) of cord (I)

1. : cord 3a

2.

a. : a straight line joining two points on a curve ; specifically : the segment of a secant between the two points of its intersection with a curve

b. of an arch : span II 3b

3.

a. obsolete : cord 1a

b. archaic : a string of a musical instrument

c. : a particular emotional or intellectual response

the story struck a popular chord

: a particular disposition or orientation of mind or spirit

surrealism … touched old chords of native, creative eccentricity — Saturday Review

4. : either of the two outside members of a truss connected and braced by the web members

5. : an arbitrary datum line from which the ordinates and position angles of an airfoil are measured ; especially : the straight line joining the leading and trailing edges

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.