microtone

[mahy-kruh-tohn]

noun

any musical interval smaller than a semitone, specifically, a quarter tone.

Origin of microtone

First recorded in 1915–20; micro- + tone

Related formsmi·cro·ton·al, adjectivemi·cro·to·nal·i·ty, nounmi·cro·ton·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for microtone

microtone

noun

any musical interval smaller than a semitone

Derived Formsmicrotonal, adjectivemicrotonality, nounmicrotonally, adverb

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