semitone

noun

semi·​tone ˈse-mē-ˌtōn How to pronounce semitone (audio)
ˈse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
: the tone at a half step
also : half step
semitonic
ˌse-mē-ˈtä-nik How to pronounce semitone (audio)
ˌse-ˌmī-
-mi-
adjective
semitonically 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Time Traveler
The first known use of semitone was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near semitone

Cite this Entry

“Semitone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semitone. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

semitone

noun
semi·​tone ˈsem-i-ˌtōn How to pronounce semitone (audio)
ˈsem-ˌī-
: the smallest difference in pitch between any two tones of a scale

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