gamut

[ gam-uht ]

noun

1. the entire scale or range:

   the gamut of dramatic emotion from grief to joy.

   Synonyms: extent, reach, scope, breadth, sweep

2. Music.
   1. the whole series of recognized musical notes.
   2. the major scale.

gamut

/ ˈgæmət /

noun

1. entire range or scale, as of emotions
2. music
   1. a scale, esp (in medieval theory) one starting on the G on the bottom line of the bass staff
   2. the whole range of notes
3. physics the range of chromaticities that can be obtained by mixing three colours

Word History and Origins

Origin of gamut¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin; contraction of gamma ut, equivalent to gamma, used to represent the first or lowest tone (G) in the medieval scale + ut (later do ); the notes of the scale ( ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si ) being named from a Latin hymn to St. John the Baptist: Ut queant laxis re sonare fibris. Mi ra gestorum fa muli tuorum, Sol ve polluti la bii reatum, S ancte I ohannes

Word History and Origins

Origin of gamut¹

C15: from Medieval Latin, changed from gamma ut, from gamma, the lowest note of the hexachord as established by Guido d'Arezzo + ut (now, doh ), the first of the notes of the scale ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, derived from a Latin hymn to St John: Ut queant laxis re sonare fibris, Mi ra gestorum fa muli tuorum, Sol ve polluti la bi reatum, S ancte I ohannes

Example Sentences

Colors appear punchy and saturated thanks to the wide color gamut, and it’s plenty bright even in situations with a lot of ambient illumination.

From Popular-Science

Oyster recipes can run the gamut from raw to steamed to fancy preparations like oysters Rockefeller and oysters casino.

From Popular-Science

The rules they broke ran the gamut from missing deadlines to helping clients commit crimes.

From ProPublica

The responses ran the gamut, with most people erring on the side of caution, especially when it comes to indoor dining.

From Eater

Countries that responded wisely to the pandemic run the gamut in terms of wealth, size, population, and style of government.

From MIT Technology Review

She ran the gamut with physical humor and dished out droll, self-deprecating one-liners.

From The Daily Beast

We take on the gamut of recent confessionals, from the sickeningly self-involved to the extremely endearing.

From The Daily Beast

It ran the gamut of ‘I want to thank you,’ ‘Because of you I turned a corner,’ to ‘How could you do this to me?’

From The Daily Beast

It ran the gamut from abstract, original eveningwear to a sort of sixties-inspired minimalism.

From The Daily Beast

Speculation runs the gamut on whether or not Italy would actually request extradition.

From The Daily Beast

From Plato and Aristotle we have learned some elements of what may be called the gamut of sensibility.

From Project Gutenberg

The music bells ran the gamut of old Scotch airs and ceased, while he sat there and waited patiently.

From Project Gutenberg

The Mohicans boldly sent back the intimidating yell of their enemies, who raised a shout of savage triumph at the fall of Gamut.

From Project Gutenberg

By this time the song of Gamut had ceased, and the sisters had learned to still the exhibition of their emotions.

From Project Gutenberg

The card-party were in a violently agitated and excited state, all screaming out together at the top of the gamut.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• spectrum