SEMITONE

semitone, half step

(noun) the musical interval between adjacent keys on a keyboard instrument

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

semitone (plural semitones)

(music) The musical interval equal (exactly or approximately) to half a tone or one-twelfth of an octave

(music) Any of the pitches of the chromatic scale

Synonyms

• half-step

Anagrams

• monetise, one-times

Source: Wiktionary


Sem"i*tone, n. Etym: [Pref. semi- + tone. CF. Hemitone.] (Mus.)

Definition: Half a tone; -- the name commonly applied to the smaller intervals of the diatonic scale.

Note: There is an impropriety in the use of this word, and half step is now preferred. See Tone. J. S. Dwight.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

6 June 2025

PUNGENCY

(noun) wit having a sharp and caustic quality; “he commented with typical pungency”; “the bite of satire”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

“Coffee, the favorite drink of the civilized world.” – Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States

coffee icon