gamut

[ gam-uht ]

noun

1. the entire scale or range:

   the gamut of dramatic emotion from grief to joy.

   Synonyms: extent, reach, scope, breadth, sweep

2. Music.
   1. the whole series of recognized musical notes.
   2. the major scale.

gamut

/ ˈgæmət /

noun

1. entire range or scale, as of emotions
2. music
   1. a scale, esp (in medieval theory) one starting on the G on the bottom line of the bass staff
   2. the whole range of notes
3. physics the range of chromaticities that can be obtained by mixing three colours

Word History and Origins

Origin of gamut¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin; contraction of gamma ut, equivalent to gamma, used to represent the first or lowest tone (G) in the medieval scale + ut (later do ); the notes of the scale ( ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si ) being named from a Latin hymn to St. John the Baptist: Ut queant laxis re sonare fibris. Mi ra gestorum fa muli tuorum, Sol ve polluti la bii reatum, S ancte I ohannes

Word History and Origins

Origin of gamut¹

C15: from Medieval Latin, changed from gamma ut, from gamma, the lowest note of the hexachord as established by Guido d'Arezzo + ut (now, doh ), the first of the notes of the scale ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, derived from a Latin hymn to St John: Ut queant laxis re sonare fibris, Mi ra gestorum fa muli tuorum, Sol ve polluti la bi reatum, S ancte I ohannes

Related Words

• spectrum