clef

[ klef ]

noun

, Music.

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

clef

/ klɛf /

noun

1. See treble clef, tenor clef, soprano clef, C clef, bass clef, alto clef
   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

Word History and Origins

Origin of clef¹

1570–80; < Middle French < Latin clāvis key

Word History and Origins

Origin of clef¹

C16: from French: key, clef, from Latin clāvis; related to Latin claudere to close

Example Sentences

Rare is the roman à clef where you think you can identify every single real person in it.

From The Daily Beast

MVP By James Boice This is a roman à clef about Kobe Bryant.

From The Daily Beast

Voltaire describes his hero “qui tient sous la clef, la vertu de sa femme.”

From Project Gutenberg

Le jardin est petit, assez grand cependant pour moi, et j'ai une clef pour entrer aux jardins de Sans-Souci.

From Project Gutenberg

Le Tarot Divinatoire: Clef du tirage des cartes et des sorts.

From Project Gutenberg

The first song was written in the soprano clef; the second has tenor clef but two solo voices; neither was made for Ehlers.

From Project Gutenberg

Her glorious voice extends from D on the third line of the bass clef to C on the second leger line above the treble clef.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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