rhizoverbBeta
DictionarynotationSystem of symbols
noun

notation

noh-TAY-shun/nəʊˈteɪʃn/

A system of written symbols used to represent information.

The staff and notes form musical notation.

Short musical staff with treble clef and four correctly formed notes, a violin bow tip beside page; notation itself the subject, no words.
Etymology
notLatinto mark, note
+ationLatinaction or result

Notation connects the act of marking with the marks used to record something. From a note or annotation, the meaning extended to an organized system of signs representing numbers or quantities.

In context

Piano Mario8:05
music notation follows the same logic: Without accidentals, the written notes correspond to the white keys on the piano, and we need sharps and flats
Musical Scales Explained (Pentatonic, Diatonic, Chromatic)

More examples

  • She explained the mathematical notation before solving the equation.
  • The symbols belonged to an unfamiliar notation.
  • The map used a compact notation for terrain features.

Forms

notation · notations

notate verb — write using a system of symbols

Similar words

script
A script is a writing system or handwriting style; notation may represent music, mathematics, or other specialized information.
symbol
A symbol is an individual sign; notation is the system using such signs.