clef

American  

[klef] / klɛf /

noun

Music.

1. a symbol placed upon a staff to indicate the name and pitch of the notes corresponding to its lines and spaces.

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clef British  

/ klɛf /

noun

1. one of several symbols placed on the left-hand side beginning of each stave indicating the pitch of the music written after it See also alto clef bass clef C clef soprano clef tenor clef treble clef

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Etymology

Origin of clef

1570–80; < Middle French < Latin clāvis key

Example Sentences

It is not signed by Chopin, but the handwriting includes his distinctive bass clef.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2024

The seamless overlap between real life and fictional counterparts, and the faithful reproduction of such well-established facts, conveys the author’s intention to offer a crystal clear clé to this roman à clef.

From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2024

The story quoted a few skeptics—among them the writer Harry Monaghan, who’d written a well-received roman à clef five years prior, and who had a regular column in the Post.

From Slate • May 27, 2023

That seems far-fetched, but to Oxfordians even “Hamlet” is a pièce à clef, all the major characters being fictionalized versions of people in the earl’s life.

From Washington Post • Apr. 21, 2023

I hate Morris Sampson because he is a somewhat famous mystery writer who wrote a roman & clef, a novel that is obviously based on true events and real people.

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

Related Words

• conceive
• design
• devise
• form
• invent
• orchestrate
• pen
• produce
• set up
• write