Octave: meaning, definitions and examples

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octave

 

[ หˆษ’ktษชv ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

music theory

An octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. In the context of Western music, an octave spans eight notes of the diatonic scale, which includes both the tonic and the octave note. It is a fundamental concept in music theory and composition, as it defines the relationship between notes. When notes are played an octave apart, they have a similar sound quality, which creates a sense of harmony.

Synonyms

interval, note range

Examples of usage

  • The song has a range of three octaves.
  • He sang the melody in a higher octave.
  • The piano keyboard is organized in octaves.
Context #2 | Noun

mathematics

In mathematics, an octave can refer to the base-8 number system. The term is used to describe a positional numeral system that uses eight as its base. The digits used in this system are 0 to 7, and it is less commonly used than the binary (base-2) or decimal (base-10) systems. Understanding octaves in a mathematical sense can be important in fields like computer science and digital systems.

Synonyms

base-eight, octal

Examples of usage

  • The code is written in octal format.
  • Octaves are used in computer programming.
  • He converted the number to octal.

Translations

Translations of the word "octave" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น oitava

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค†เค เคตเคพเค‚

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Oktave

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ oktaf

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะพะบั‚ะฐะฒะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ oktawa

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ชใ‚ฏใ‚ฟใƒผใƒ–

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท octave

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ octava

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท oktav

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์˜ฅํƒ€๋ธŒ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฃูˆูƒุชุงู

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ oktรกva

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ oktรกva

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ…ซๅบฆ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ oktava

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ oktavi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะพะบั‚ะฐะฒะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒฅแƒขแƒแƒ•แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ oktan

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ octava

Etymology

The term 'octave' originates from the Latin word 'octavus', meaning 'eighth'. This aligns with its position in the scale structure where it encompasses eight notes from the starting point to the next occurrence of the same note at a higher or lower pitch. The concept and use of octaves can be traced back to ancient Greek music theory, where it was associated with the Pythagorean tuning system, which emphasized mathematical relationships in music. Over time, the octave has played a crucial role in shaping Western musical traditions and has been foundational in the development of musical scales and harmony. The use of octaves in mathematics as a numeral system reflects how this concept has transcended its musical origins, demonstrating the versatility of numbers in different domains.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,084, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.