diatonic
Americanadjective
-
noting those scales that contain five whole tones and two semitones, as the major, minor, and certain modal scales.
-
of or relating to the tones, intervals, or harmonies of such scales.
adjective
-
of, relating to, or based upon any scale of five tones and two semitones produced by playing the white keys of a keyboard instrument, esp the natural major or minor scales forming the basis of the key system in Western music Compare chromatic
-
not involving the sharpening or flattening of the notes of the major or minor scale nor the use of such notes as modified by accidentals
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of diatonic
1590–1600; < Late Latin diatonicus < Greek diatonikós; see dia-, tonic
Compare meaning
How does diatonic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Vocabulary lists containing diatonic
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
