apotome

noun

apot·​o·​me
əˈpätə(ˌ)mē
plural -s
in Greek music
: the interval of a semitone in the Pythagorean scale that is slightly greater than half a whole tone and is equal to the difference between the tetrachord and two whole tones

Word History

Etymology

Greek apotomē, literally, cutting off, from apotemnein to cut off, from apo- + temnein to cut

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Cite this Entry

“Apotome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apotome. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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