partial tone

American  

noun

Acoustics, Music.

1. one of the pure tones forming a part of a complex tone.

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Etymology

Origin of partial tone

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Nor is this characteristic to be found in the fact that, for example, in sounding a major third the fifth partial tone of the lower note coincides with the fourth of the higher note.

From Popular scientific lectures by Mach, Ernst

This depends on the number of vibrations of one tone, predominant in intensity over the others, called the fundamental or ground tone, or first partial tone.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

High sounds cannot obliterate low ones, but, on the contrary, the sensation of each partial tone of which compound musical sounds is formed is diminished by all the tones below it in pitch.

From The Galaxy, April, 1877 Vol. XXIII.—April, 1877.—No. 4. by Various