harmonic

adjective har·mon·ic \ här-ˈmä-nik \

Updated on: 13 Mar 2018

Definition of harmonic

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

play \här-ˈmä-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See harmonic defined for English-language learners

See harmonic defined for kids

Examples of harmonic in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of harmonic from the Web

This theory of dissonant counterpoint would invert traditional rules of harmonic writing and, Seeger believed, create a musical language at once radically discordant and uniquely American.

— william robin, New York Times, "The Pioneering Modernist Who Wrote an Audacious String Quartet," 13 Oct. 2017
Much of the piece’s harmonic structure includes the systematic repression of brighter themes in major keys.

— paavali jumppanen, WSJ, "The Maestro’s Bleakest Work," 6 Oct. 2017
The lidar system can capture harmonic frequencies that are too high for the human ear to hear.

— daniel a. gross, Smithsonian, "Why We Need To Start Listening To Insects," 25 Apr. 2017
He is especially known for his skill as a soloist who developed a harmonic approach that later musicians studied.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Who are the icons in the windows of Central Library's new black literature and culture center?," 21 Oct. 2017
He is insanely organized, and has proven himself adept at creating a harmonic system from youth to pros.

— sam mellinger, kansascity, "Mellinger Minutes: Are Chiefs still good? All-Time Royals team? KU-MU? Vermes to USMNT?," 17 Oct. 2017
The lament of Act 1 finds Handel exploring depths of grief through advanced harmonic language and skillful writing for the double chorus.

— special to the plain dealer, cleveland.com, "Apollo's Fire plays to its many strengths in vivid adaptation of Handel's 'Israel in Egypt' (review)," 16 Oct. 2017
Muti’s patience in allowing the 70-minute symphony to develop organically, over vast harmonic landscapes observed with the sensitivities of a musical dramatist, told at every turn.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "CSO presents a pretty premiere as part of Muti's dervish week of pre-tour activity," 29 Sep. 2017
Think of it as a roller coaster for your ears: placid, slow climbs lead to harmonic twists and turns, toward hair-raising climaxes.

— michael hamad, courant.com, "An Addictive, Contemporary Autumn Of Jazz And Classical Music," 1 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'harmonic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of harmonic

1570

harmonic Synonyms

harmonic

noun

Definition of harmonic

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

Recent Examples of harmonic from the Web

Bordreuil’s latest tape with bassist Zach Rowden, Hollow (No Rent), is entirely acoustic, with music that moves from whispery harmonics to viscous, deeply fricative slabs.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "French cellist and sound artist Leila Bordreuil diffuses and distorts bowed lines in her Chicago debut," 8 Mar. 2018
The piece is a technical tour de force for the solo violin, including the slippery sounds of the player slurring through passages of harmonics.

— elaine schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Program change makes for an effective blend in Milwaukee Symphony performance," 2 Feb. 2018
There's talk of the harmonics of music created between one vibrating celestial body and the next, a school of thought to which Dr. Cervi apparently subscribes.

— david rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Farinelli and the King': Theater Review," 18 Dec. 2017
Over three extended pieces, his striated long tones glisten with sour harmonics, cavernous overtones, and breath surges that make the music expand and contract in visceral waves.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "John McCowen shares his research on the contrabass clarinet with a riveting new solo album," 8 Dec. 2017
Gnashing dissonant chords, insectoid buzzings and furiously scrubbing strings abruptly morph into almost inaudible glissandos played in whistling harmonics.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Arditti Quartet launches Ligeti series with wondrous, strange sounds," 21 Oct. 2017
There appear, through some weird alchemy of harmonics, phantom instruments.

— geoff dyer, New York Times, "My Obsession With the Necks, the Greatest Trio on Earth," 4 Oct. 2017
Despite challenges in tuning the edgy harmonics, this was a brilliant rendition, shrill trills gilding the line, the strings chasing the piano’s statement and ending altogether with an emphatic punctuation.

— by libby hanssen, kansascity, "Summerfest impresses with brilliant colors, subtle hues of the 20th century.," 16 July 2017
Players were often asked to abandon the standard twelve pitches: glissandos, microtones, whistling harmonics, and other breathy noises proliferated.

— alex ross, The New Yorker, "The L.A. Philharmonic Celebrates Iceland," 21 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of harmonic

1777

HARMONIC Defined for English Language Learners

harmonic

adjective

Definition of harmonic for English Language Learners

: of or relating to musical harmony rather than melody or rhythm

Learn More about harmonic

See words that rhyme with harmonic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for harmonic Spanish Central: Translation of harmonic Nglish: Translation of harmonic for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about harmonic

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harmonic

Definition of harmonic

harmonically

Examples of harmonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of harmonic from the Web

First Known Use of harmonic

harmonic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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harmonic

Definition of harmonic

Recent Examples of harmonic from the Web

First Known Use of harmonic

HARMONIC Defined for English Language Learners

harmonic

Definition of harmonic for English Language Learners

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