partial tone

noun

, Acoustics, Music.

1. one of the pure tones forming a part of a complex tone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of partial tone¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

If harmonics or partial tones of prime tones coincide, there are no beats; if they do not coincide, the beats produced will give a character of roughness to the interval.

From Project Gutenberg

Compare what Helmholtz says regarding the repetition and coincidence of partial tones.

From Project Gutenberg

The brilliant sonorousness and roundness of the timbre of the horn are due to the strength and predominance of the partial tones up to the 7th or 8th.

From Project Gutenberg

The higher sounds that accompany the fundamental are called sometimes harmonics, sometimes upper partial tones, but generally overtones.

From Project Gutenberg

High sounds cannot obliterate low ones, but, on the contrary, the sensation of each partial tone of which compound musical sounds is formed is diminished by all the tones below it in pitch.

From Project Gutenberg