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chord
1[ kawrd ]
/ kɔrd /
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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).
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Origin of chord
1OTHER WORDS FROM chord
chorded, adjectiveWords nearby chord
Other definitions for chord (2 of 2)
chord2
[ 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?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use chord in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for chord (1 of 2)
chord1
/ (kɔːd) /
noun
maths
- a straight line connecting two points on a curve or curved surface
- 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 of chord
chorded, adjectiveWord Origin for chord
C16: from Latin chorda, from Greek khordē gut, string; see cord
British Dictionary definitions for chord (2 of 2)
chord2
/ (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 of chord
chordal, adjectiveWord 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
Scientific 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.
Cultural 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.
Other 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.