rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -ic
English

-ic

connected with or characteristic of

Forms

  • -ic

Origin

Through French and Latin -icus from Greek -ikos.

Note

It can indicate a field, a material, a resemblance, or a tendency; it has no single literal meaning in every word.

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adjective

chromatic

Using semitones or notes outside a diatonic scale.

The pianist plays a chromatic scale, moving upward by one semitone at a time.

Etymology
chromatGreekcolor
+icEnglishconnected with or characteristic of

The Greek root names color and was already used for a musical genus. Modern music retains the color metaphor for notes that add semitones beyond a diatonic scale.

More examples

  • The melody contains several chromatic notes outside the key.
  • A chromatic passage adds tension before the final chord.
  • She practices chromatic runs on the flute.

Forms

chromatic

Similar words

diatonic
Diatonic uses notes of a particular seven-note scale; chromatic introduces semitones beyond that set.