harmonic series

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. a series in which the reciprocals of the terms form an arithmetic progression.

2. the divergent infinite series, 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + . . . .

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harmonic series British  

noun

1. maths a series whose terms are in harmonic progression, as in 1 + 1/ 2 + 1/ 3 + …

2. acoustics the series of tones with frequencies strictly related to one another and to the fundamental tone, as obtained by touching lightly the node points of a string while playing it. Its most important application is in the playing of brass instruments

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harmonic series Scientific  

1. A series whose terms are in harmonic progression, especially the series 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + …. and so on.

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Etymology

Origin of harmonic series

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Likewise, Pitre’s second installment of “The Harmonic Series,” released in July, begins with Malone’s hovering organ and ends with Barbieri’s disorienting electronics.

From New York Times

Before he released his first album in the system, he organized the 2009 compilation “The Harmonic Series” as a rebuttal.

From New York Times

Debussy had a particular fondness for the natural harmonic series—the spectrum of overtones that arise from a vibrating string.

From The New Yorker

They’ve tried to apply mathematical principles he was known to favor, such as the Golden Ratio, which designers use to mirror nature and create pleasing proportions, and harmonic series, where proportions are based on musical frequencies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Vijay Iyer wrote the longest overture in “Run,” a piece that builds on the C-major harmonic series as an extension of Bach’s piece in that key, the “home key” of the cello’s tuning.

From Washington Post