octet

noun

oc·​tet äk-ˈtet How to pronounce octet (audio)
1
: a musical composition for eight instruments or voices
2
: a group or set of eight: such as
b
: the performers of an octet

Examples of octet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An octet consisting of the British marque’s entire 2010 model line finished in a one-off orange will be auctioned off by Bonhams next month as part of the Zoute Sale. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2023 Following the news that the octet had edged out SB19 in the final round of the competition, STAY flocked to social media to celebrate the win. Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 19 July 2022 This year’s Omaha octet features five of the teams with top-eight national seeds entering the NCAA tournament, including the top two. USA TODAY, 17 June 2023 Its fall edition will feature concerts — all in October — by saxophonist Mark Turner and his quartet, flutist Jamie Baum and her octet, and an all-star quintet that includes trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, pianist Gerald Clayton and guitarist Anthony Wilson. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2021 According to Australian Geographic, the fishy octet had assembled to vie for the attention of a nearby female—an elaborate courtship ritual that typically involves a lady ray releasing pheromones into the water before zooming away, triggering a train of males into giving chase. Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2020 Left-hander and offseason addition Matt Gage was optioned to Triple-A over the weekend, leaving the Astros with a pretty clear octet of righty relievers to start the 2023 season. Michael Shapiro, Chron, 27 Mar. 2023 Composed when Mendelssohn was only 16, the octet brims with youthful energy, but also contains great depths. Dallas News, 4 June 2022 But it’s also got sitars, tape loops, a string octet, jazzy horns, and psychedelic funk drones. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'octet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of octet was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near octet

Cite this Entry

“Octet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octet. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

octet

noun
oc·​tet äk-ˈtet How to pronounce octet (audio)
1
a
: a piece of music written for eight voices or eight instruments
b
: the performers of an octet
2
: a group or set of eight

More from Merriam-Webster on octet

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