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

When I write for tuba, I sing all of the melodic parts and I transcribe them maybe three or four octaves down.

From Los Angeles Times

The A, D and G strings are all tuned an octave higher than a standard guitar, adding a new level of tonality.

From Los Angeles Times

It became a defining song for the genre, marrying Thomas's gospel-trained, four octave vocals to a pulsing electronic beat.

From BBC

May said, her voice going up several octaves.

From Literature

This excitation triggers the generation of harmonic electronic states that give rise to single photons -- similar to how musical harmonics produce notes across multiple octaves.

From Science Daily