chromatic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to color or colors.
-
Music.
-
involving a modification of the normal scale by the use of accidentals.
-
progressing by semitones, especially to a tone having the same letter name, as in C to C sharp.
-
adjective
-
of, relating to, or characterized by a colour or colours
-
music
-
involving the sharpening or flattening of notes or the use of such notes in chords and harmonic progressions
-
of or relating to the chromatic scale or an instrument capable of producing it
a chromatic harmonica
-
of or relating to chromaticism Compare diatonic
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of chromatic
1590–1600; < Greek chrōmatikós, equivalent to chrōmat- ( see chromato-) + -ikos -ic
Compare meaning
How does chromatic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
The adjective chromatic is useful for describing things related to color, like the beautiful chromatic variation of the sky at sunset. You could describe the chromatic intensity of a fireworks display or the excellent chromatic perception of an artist, who is skilled at seeing nuances of color. In physics, the word chromatic has to do with the scientific aspects of color and light. The earliest uses of chromatic, in the 1590s, only referred to music, but by the 1800s it was used to mean "color," which is also the meaning of the Greek root, khroma.
Vocabulary lists containing chromatic
Music - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Music - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chromatic runs, up and down on unsteady ground, recall Liszt’s “Bagatelle Sans Tonalité.”
From New York Times • Apr. 29, 2022
He added Phillip Jeffries’ Chromatic in orange opalescent on the ceiling.
From Washington Post • Mar. 23, 2022
Chromatic respites are provided on the other two walls by murals depicting paler, albeit no less energetic floodwaters.
From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2018
Their debut album, Chromatic, released in May, prompted influential French magazine Les Inrocks to call their music "sublime".
From The Guardian • Jul. 18, 2011
Ernest’s colitis recurred in 1956, a flare-up he attributed largely to stress over the unresolved fate of Chromatic.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
