definitions

chord

1
[ kawrd ]
/ kɔrd /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR chord ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a feeling or emotion: His story struck a chord of pity in the listeners.
Geometry. the line segment between two points on a given curve.
Engineering, Building Trades. a principal member of a truss extending from end to end, usually one of a pair of such members, more or less parallel and connected by a web composed of various compression and tension members.
Aeronautics. a straight line joining the trailing and leading edges of an airfoil section.
Anatomy. cord(def 6).

Nearby words

choragus, choral, choral speaking, chorale, chorale prelude, chord, chord chart, chord of the sixth, chord organ, chord symbol, chord-

Origin of chord

1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin chorda < Greek chordḗ gut, string; replacing cord in senses given

Related forms

chord·ed, adjective

Definition for chord (2 of 2)

chord

2
[ kawrd ]
/ kɔrd /

noun

a combination of usually three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously.

verb (used with object)

to establish or play a chord or chords for (a particular harmony or song); harmonize or voice: How would you chord that in B flat?

Origin of chord

2
1350–1400; earlier cord, Middle English, short for accord; ch- from chord1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chord

British Dictionary definitions for chord (1 of 2)

chord

1
/ (kɔːd) /

noun

maths
  1. a straight line connecting two points on a curve or curved surface
  2. the line segment lying between two points of intersection of a straight line and a curve or curved surface
engineering one of the principal members of a truss, esp one that lies along the top or the bottom
anatomy a variant spelling of cord
an emotional response, esp one of sympathythe story struck the right chord
an imaginary straight line joining the leading edge and the trailing edge of an aerofoil
archaic the string of a musical instrument

Derived Forms

chorded, adjective

Word Origin for chord

C16: from Latin chorda, from Greek khordē gut, string; see cord

British Dictionary definitions for chord (2 of 2)

chord

2
/ (kɔːd) /

noun

the simultaneous sounding of a group of musical notes, usually three or more in numberSee concord (def. 4), discord (def. 3)

verb

(tr) to provide (a melodic line) with chords

Derived Forms

chordal, adjective

Word Origin for chord

C15: short for accord; spelling influenced by chord 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for chord

chord

[ kôrd ]

n.

Variant ofcord
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for chord

chord

[ kôrd ]

A line segment that joins two points on a curve.
A straight line connecting the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture definitions for chord

chord

In music, the sound of three or more notes played at the same time. The history of Western music is marked by an increase in complexity of the chords composers use.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with chord

chord

see strike a chord.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.