harmonics

[hahr-mon-iks]

noun

Music.

1. (used with a singular verb),  the science of musical sounds.

2. (used with a plural verb),  the partials or overtones of a fundamental tone.

3. (used with a plural verb),  the flageoletlike tones of a string, as a violin string, made to vibrate so as to bring out an overtone.

harmonics

/ hɑːˈmɒnɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) the science of musical sounds and their acoustic properties

2. (functioning as plural) the overtones of a fundamental note, as produced by lightly touching the string of a stringed instrument at one of its node points while playing See harmonic

Word History and Origins

Origin of harmonics¹

First recorded in 1700–10; harmonic, -ics

Example Sentences

I like odd chord changes; when I was singing with the Jazz Passengers, that was sort of like going to college for me, they used all kinds of time signatures and harmonics and things.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s something that happens when you lock in to somebody and all the harmonics ping,” says Sting backup singer Jo Lawry.

From Los Angeles Times

She folded trills, stops and sweet harmonics into unbroken lines, and when she harmonized with herself, she utilized the plushness and patience familiar from her Bach recordings.

From New York Times

This excitation triggers the generation of harmonic electronic states that give rise to single photons -- similar to how musical harmonics produce notes across multiple octaves.

From Science Daily

“Pisachi” alternates between hushed, singing harmonics and piquant rhythms painted in impassioned tremolos and spiky pizzicatos.

From New York Times

Related Words

• arrangement 
• chord 
• composition 
• melody 
• tune 
• unity