DictionarypitchSound frequency
noun

pitch

How high or low a sound is.

The pitch of her voice rises when she gets excited.

Etymology

The older thrusting and fixing verb developed the throwing, setting, inclination, and level senses. The tar-like substance has a separate ancestry.

More examples

  • A whistle has a higher pitch than a bass drum.
  • The two singers match each other's pitch perfectly.
  • These bells produce different pitches, even though they look alike.

Forms

pitch · pitches

Similar words

frequency
Measures vibrations per second rather than perceived sound height.
tone
Can describe a sound's quality, not just its height.