noun / adjective
harmonic
A tone at a whole-number multiple of a fundamental frequency.
The note contained several harmonics.
Etymology
The Greek word concerns harmony. Whole-number frequency multiples fit the regular relationships of musical sound, giving these component tones the harmonic name.
More examples
- The second harmonic had twice the fundamental frequency.
- She isolated a high harmonic on the violin string.
- The analyzer displayed the harmonic frequencies.
Forms
harmonic · harmonics
Similar words
- overtone
- An overtone is above the fundamental; a harmonic is specifically an integer multiple and includes the fundamental as the first harmonic.
- partial
- A partial is a component tone; it need not be an exact harmonic multiple.