chord

¹

[ kawrd ]

noun

1. a feeling or emotion:

   His story struck a chord of pity in the listeners.

2. Geometry. the line segment between two points on a given curve.
3. Engineering, Building Trades. a principal member of a truss extending from end to end, usually one of a pair of such members, more or less parallel and connected by a web composed of various compression and tension members.
4. Aeronautics. a straight line joining the trailing and leading edges of an airfoil section.
5. Anatomy. cord ( def 6 ).

chord

²

[ kawrd ]

noun

1. a combination of usually three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously.

verb (used with object)

1. to establish or play a chord or chords for (a particular harmony or song); harmonize or voice:

   How would you chord that in B flat?

chord

¹

/ kɔːd /

noun

1. the simultaneous sounding of a group of musical notes, usually three or more in number See concord discord

verb

1. tr to provide (a melodic line) with chords

chord

²

/ kɔːd /

noun

1. maths
   1. a straight line connecting two points on a curve or curved surface
   2. the line segment lying between two points of intersection of a straight line and a curve or curved surface
2. engineering one of the principal members of a truss, esp one that lies along the top or the bottom
3. anatomy a variant spelling of cord
4. an emotional response, esp one of sympathy

   the story struck the right chord

5. an imaginary straight line joining the leading edge and the trailing edge of an aerofoil
6. archaic.
   the string of a musical instrument

chord

/ kôrd /

1. A line segment that joins two points on a curve.
2. A straight line connecting the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil.

chord

1. In music, the sound of three or more notes played at the same time. The history of Western music is marked by an increase in complexity of the chords composers use.

Derived Forms

• ˈchordal, adjective
• ˈchorded, adjective

Other Words From

• chorded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chord¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin chorda < Greek chordḗ gut, string; replacing cord in senses given

Origin of chord²

1350–1400; earlier cord, Middle English, short for accord; ch- from chord ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of chord¹

C15: short for accord ; spelling influenced by chord ¹

Origin of chord²

C16: from Latin chorda, from Greek khordē gut, string; see cord

Idioms and Phrases

see strike a chord .

Example Sentences

The song she co-wrote for “Twisters” is built on a simple, repeating, arpeggiated riff on its two main chords, generating a contemplative sound, evoking a long drive on a flat, open highway.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Frommer’s call to travel touched a chord — the first 5,000 copies of his 120-page book, which he published himself, sold out almost overnight — and it did so at a fortuitous moment.

From New York Times

But the rigorous process of interviews, followed by group activities and then a 60-second showcase, sees Mr Hall cut before the chance to strum a chord in front of judges.

From BBC

The score is built around a single chord that over an hour explodes into kaleidoscopic, supernatural-sounding upper harmonic pitches associated with each note.

From Los Angeles Times

With echoey chords topped by electric sitar, the track is plush, slow and deeply, inconsolably despondent.

From New York Times

Related Words

• arc
• arch
• contour
• loop
• trajectory