Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Octave
Oc′tave
,Noun.
1.
The eighth day after a church festival, the festival day being included; also, the week following a church festival.
“The octaves of Easter.” Jer. Taylor.
2.
(Mus.)
(a)
The eighth tone in the scale; the interval between one and eight of the scale, or any interval of equal length; an interval of five tones and two semitones.
(b)
The whole diatonic scale itself.
☞ The ratio of a musical tone to its octave above is 1:2 as regards the number of vibrations producing the tones.
3.
(Poet.)
The first two stanzas of a sonnet, consisting of four verses each; a stanza of eight lines.
With mournful melody it continued this
octave
. Sir P. Sidney.
4.
A small cask of wine, the eighth part of a pipe.
Oc′tave
,Adj.
Consisting of eight; eight.
Dryden.
Webster 1828 Edition
Octave
OC'TAVE
,Adj.
OC'TAVE
,Noun.
1.
The eighth day after a festival.2.
Eight days together after a festival.3.
In music, an eighth, or an interval of seven degrees or twelve semitones. The octave is the most perfect of the chords, consisting of six full tones and two semitones major. It contains the whole diatonic scale.Definition 2024
octave
octave
English
Noun
octave (plural octaves)
- (music) An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch.
- The melody jumps up an octave at the beginning, then later drops back down an octave.
- The singer was known for astounding clarity over her entire five-octave range.
- The octave has a pitch ratio of 2:1.
- (music) The pitch an octave higher than a given pitch.
- The bass starts on a low E, and the tenor comes in on the octave.
- (music) A coupler on an organ which allows the organist to sound the note an octave above the note of the key pressed (cf sub-octave)
- (poetry) A poetic stanza consisting of eight lines; usually used as one part of a sonnet.
- Sir Philip Sidney
- With mournful melody it continued this octave.
- Sir Philip Sidney
- (fencing) The eighth defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword out straight at knee level.
- 2009: Ray Finkleman
- If they always do a lateral parry quarte, and never a semicircular octave, that gives you an opening.
- 2009: Ray Finkleman
- (Christianity) The day that is one week after a feast day in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.
- 2014: Jennifer Gregory Miller
- It was extended to the entire Church by 1814, and then in 1913 the feast was transferred to September 15, the octave day of the Birth of Mary and the day after the Exaltation of the Cross.
- 2014: Jennifer Gregory Miller
- (Christianity) An eight day period beginning on a feast day in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.
- A small cask of wine, one eighth of a pipe.
- (astrology) the subjectional vibration of a planet
- Astrology club
- Lastly, Mars is Pluto’s lower vibrational octave and resonance because it is the ancient ruler, and modern day co-ruler of Scorpio – the sign of Pluto’s natural rulership.
- 2016: Kristin Fontana, The Beach Reporter
- Mercury then joins its higher octave and generous counterpart Jupiter early next week, and it opens gates of opportunity.
- Astrology club
Abbreviations
- (interval): P8
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Related terms
Translations
interval
pitch octave higher than a given pitch
(fencing) the eighth defensive position
See also
- interval
- unison
- second
- third
- fourth
- fifth
- sixth
- seventh
-
Octave (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
-
Octave in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
Adjective
octave (not comparable)
- (obsolete) Consisting of eight; eight in number.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)