middle C
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of middle C
First recorded in 1830–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For what it’s worth, though, they did find that the waves corresponded to the note of B-flat, about 57 octaves below the middle C note on a piano.
From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2025
In one passage shortly after Emile’s first entrance, Blanchard originally called for high G’s, which now have been lowered to B’s, one step below middle C.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2023
“It’s like the middle C, and a couple of keys on either side of it on a piano keyboard.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2023
Marsha Genensky, according to Ms. Hellauer, “sounds like a folk singer, with a nasal twang, and I sound like a pop singer who would rather not be above middle C if she can help it.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 20, 2016
They might call a note "middle C" or "second line G" or "the F sharp in the bass clef."
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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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.