semitone

noun

semi·​tone ˈse-mē-ˌtōn 

ˈse-ˌmī-,

-mi-

: the tone at a half step

also : half step

semitonic

ˌse-mē-ˈtä-nik 

ˌse-ˌmī-

-mi-

adjective

semitonically

ˌse-mē-ˈtä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

ˌse-ˌmī-

-mi-

adverb

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Get Musical With the Definition of Semitone

A semitone (sometimes called a half tone or a half step) is the distance from a white key to a neighboring black key on the piano keyboard—for example, from G to G-sharp or from E to E-flat. In an octave (from G to the next G above, for instance), there are twelve semitones. Semitones are the smallest intervals that are used intentionally in almost any of the music you'll normally hear. Two semitones equal a whole tone—the distance from G up to A or from E down to D, for example.

Examples of semitone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There is, however, a harmonic tension at the heart of the conception, as semitone dissonances pierce the texture in almost every bar—F against E, D-sharp against E, C against B. As one of these twinges is resolved, another intrudes. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024

According to the team’s findings, 45-percent of recordings had a pitch error of 0 semitones, while nearly 69-percent of volunteers remained within just 1 semitone of the song in their heads. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Aug. 2024

Pitch is measured in cents (100 cents = 1 semitone = ¹∕12 octave), and pitch errors can be defined as the number of cents a sung note differs from the intended note. —James Dziezynski, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2014

Being off by more than a half semitone (50 cents) is considered poor singing. —James Dziezynski, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2014

The score begins with horns and trombones blaring a semitone dissonance, like a motor horn in a nightmare city, and goes on from there. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

semitone

noun

semi·​tone ˈsem-i-ˌtōn 

ˈsem-ˌī-

: the smallest difference in pitch between any two tones of a scale