figured bass

[ beys ]

/ beɪs /

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noun Music.

a bass part in which the notes have numbers under them indicating the chords to be played.

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Origin of figured bass

First recorded in 1795–1805

Words nearby figured bass

figurative language, figuratively, figure, figure and ground, figured, figured bass, figured glass, figure eight, figure eight suture, figure-ground, figure-ground phenomenon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for figured bass

Has L.A. figured out how to stop the epidemic it set loose on the world?
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 29-Jan 4, 2014|William Boot|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Although I was not free of eating disorder thoughts, I figured the worst of it was behind me.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He captures Ramone and his second wife, Barbara, together in the studio in one photo, him on bass, her on guitar.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings|Melissa Leon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The Bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham|P. J. O’Rourke|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Very bass-y house, if I was in my element and playing what I like to play.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle|Marlow Stern|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tony's stool was nearer to the bass keys of the piano, while the sofa Lettice lay upon had certainly been drawn up towards him.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
Fancy silk buttons, with worked figured tops, were patented by Wm. Elliott, in 1837.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
The melody or tune is played on one of the pipes furnished with holes for the purpose, while the other three give a drone, bass.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
The chief reason is that g is the top note of the string bass, and is called for in orchestral transcriptions.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
Mr. Betts, of London, had one for which he refused the enormous sum of £500, and Dragonetti also refused £800 for a double bass.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce

British Dictionary definitions for figured bass

figured bass

/ (beɪs) /

noun

a shorthand method of indicating a thorough-bass part in which each bass note is accompanied by figures indicating the intervals to be played in the chord above it in the realization

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

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figured bass

noun Music.

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Origin of figured bass

Words nearby figured bass

Example sentences from the Web for figured bass

British Dictionary definitions for figured bass

noun