octave

[ ok-tiv, -teyv ]

noun

1. Music.
   1. a tone on the eighth degree from a given tone.
   2. the interval encompassed by such tones.
   3. the harmonic combination of such tones.
   4. a series of tones, or of keys of an instrument, extending through this interval.
2. a pipe-organ stop whose pipes give tones an octave above the normal pitch of the keys used.
3. a series or group of eight.
4. Also called octet. Prosody.
   1. a group of eight lines of verse, especially the first eight lines of a sonnet in the Italian form. Compare sestet ( def 1 ).
   2. a stanza of eight lines.
5. the eighth of a series.
6. Ecclesiastical.
   1. the eighth day from a feast day, counting the feast day as the first.
   2. the period of eight days beginning with a feast day.
7. one eighth of a pipe of wine.
8. Fencing. the eighth of eight defensive positions.

adjective

1. pitched an octave higher.

octave

/ ˈɒktɪv /

noun

1. 1. the interval between two musical notes one of which has twice the pitch of the other and lies eight notes away from it counting inclusively along the diatonic scale
   2. one of these two notes, esp the one of higher pitch
   3. ( as modifier ) See also perfect diminished interval

      an octave leap

2. prosody a rhythmic group of eight lines of verse
3. ˈɒkteɪv
   1. a feast day and the seven days following
   2. the final day of this period
4. the eighth of eight basic positions in fencing
5. any set or series of eight

adjective

1. consisting of eight parts

octave

1. An interval between musical notes in which the higher note is six whole tones , or twelve half tones, above the lower. From the standpoint of physics , the higher note has twice the frequency of the lower. Notes that are an octave apart, or a whole number of octaves apart, sound in some ways like the same note and have the same letter for their names.

Other Words From

• oc·ta·val [ok-, tey, -v, uh, l, ok, -t, uh, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of octave¹

1300–50; Middle English < Latin octāva eighth part, noun use of feminine of octāvus, equivalent to oct- oct- + -āvus adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of octave¹

C14: (originally: eighth day) via Old French from Medieval Latin octāva diēs eighth day (after a festival), from Latin octo eight

Example Sentences

Thanks to its straightforward playing mechanics, repeating layout, and a massive range spanning seven octaves, piano is one of the most unique and immediately rewarding instruments to learn.

From Popular-Science

Playing notes on her piano, she demonstrates for Steve why whole numbers sound pleasing, why octaves are mathematically imperfect, and how math underlies musical composition.

From Freakonomics

Andrew Rannells and Tituss Burgess teamed up for “It Takes Two” from “Into the Woods,” with Burgess jacking up his voice an octave to sing the Baker’s Wife’s part.

From Washington Post

His three-octave falsetto was also used to good advantage in Mars Attacks!

From The Daily Beast

I played up one octave, and then I wished to go on by placing my first finger on F sharp.

From Project Gutenberg

An octave coupler without such extension is incomplete and is no more honest than a stop which only goes down to Tenor C.

From Project Gutenberg

Not only did he provide sub-octave and super-octave couplers freely, but he even added a Swell Sub-quint to Great coupler!

From Project Gutenberg

Closing the holes again and blowing harder, we get the scale an octave higher.

From Project Gutenberg

If two notes at an interval of a fifth are held down, a note one octave below the lower one will be heard.

From Project Gutenberg