seventh chord

American  

noun

Music.

1. a chord formed by the superposition of three thirds.

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seventh chord British  

noun

1. music a chord consisting of a triad with a seventh added above the root See dominant seventh chord diminished seventh chord major seventh chord minor seventh chord

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Etymology

Origin of seventh chord

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Willcocks, following a rising figure full of anticipation, places an explosive, half-diminished seventh chord under the text “Word,” resolving it elaborately over the next few measures.

From New York Times

The earliest work that Wolf put out often leaned toward jazzy soul — which she attributes to her love of major and minor seventh chords — but with “Juno” she widened the scope.

From New York Times

He can tell you what “Travis picking” is and why a flat seventh chord is haunting.

From Seattle Times

They might have fallen out of an early Tom Waits ballad, a chest fever splashing over minor seventh chords.

From New York Times

But the vagueness adds a note of restlessness and instability to the entire organization, a dominant seventh chord crying to resolve into something simple and basic.

From Washington Post