Definition of semitone
:the tone at a half step;
also
:half step
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Explore M-W
Get Musical With the Definition of semitone
A semitone (sometimes called a half tone or a half step) is the distance from a white key to a neighboring black key on the piano keyboard—for example, from G to G-sharp or from E to E-flat. In an octave (from G to the next G above, for instance), there are twelve semitones. Semitones are the smallest intervals that are used intentionally in almost any of the music you'll normally hear. Two semitones equal a whole tone—the distance from G up to A or from E down to D, for example.
First Known Use of semitone
15th century
SEMITONE Defined for English Language Learners
Learn More about semitone
-
See words that rhyme with semitone Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about semitone
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up semitone? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
