Main Entry:

aton·al

Pronunciation:

\(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-n^əl, (ˌ)a-\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

²a- + tonal

Date:

1922

: marked by avoidance of traditional musical tonality ; especially : organized without reference to key or tonal center and using the tones of the chromatic scale impartially

— aton·al·ism \-nə-ˌli-zəm\ noun

— aton·al·ist \-list\ noun

— ato·nal·i·ty \ˌā-tō-ˈna-lə-tē, ˌa-\ noun

— aton·al·ly \(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nə-lē, (ˌ)a-\ adverb