Octave

Quick meaning: Octave is a noun meaning (music) An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch frequency.

Meaning

(music) An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch frequency.

More Meanings

1. (music) The pitch an octave higher than a given pitch.
2. (music) A coupler on an organ which allows the organist to sound the note an octave above the note of the key pressed (cf sub-octave)
3. (poetry) A poetic stanza consisting of eight lines; usually used as one part of a sonnet.
4. (fencing) The eighth defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword out straight at knee level.
5. (Christianity) The day that is one week after a feast day in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.
6. (Christianity) An eight-day period beginning on a feast day in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.
7. A small cask of wine, one eighth of a pipe.

Example Sentences

The octave has a pitch ratio of 2:1.

With mournful melody it continued this octave.

The bass starts on a low E, and the tenor comes in on the octave.

The singer was known for astounding clarity over her entire five-octave range.

Word Forms

• octaves
• octaving
• octaved

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include eighth, octavius, doublings, ottava, diapason, range.

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