harmonic

1 of 2

adjective

har·​mon·​ic här-ˈmä-nik 

1

: musical

2

: of or relating to musical harmony or a harmonic

3

: pleasing to the ear : harmonious

4

: of an integrated nature : congruous

harmonically

här-ˈmä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

harmonic

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: overtone

especially : one whose vibration frequency is an integral multiple of that of the fundamental

b

: a flutelike tone produced on a stringed instrument by touching a vibrating string at a nodal point

2

: a component frequency of a complex wave (as of electromagnetic energy) that is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency

Synonyms

Adjective

• balanced
• congruous
• consonant
• eurythmic
• eurhythmic
• harmonious

Examples of harmonic in a Sentence

Adjective

the desire to live the kind of harmonic life in which work and family are perfectly balanced

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Blair’s harmonic language and the almost ritualistic structural simplicity of his treatment of Neruda’s text were effective and moving. —Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024

The control system’s response—repeatedly opening and closing steam valves—created a 200-megawatt fluctuation in power output that propagated harmonic feedback across the Eastern Interconnection, North America’s eastern grid. —IEEE Spectrum, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing harmonic

• harmonic analysis
• harmonic mean
• harmonic motion
• harmonic progression
• harmonic series

Kids Definition

harmonic

1 of 2 adjective

har·​mon·​ic här-ˈmän-ik 

: of or relating to musical harmony as opposed to melody or rhythm

harmonically

-ˈmän-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

harmonic

2 of 2 noun

: overtone sense 1