chord

1
[ kawrd ]
/ kɔrd /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR chord ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a feeling or emotion: His story struck a chord of pity in the listeners.
Geometry. the line segment between two points on a given curve.
Engineering, Building Trades. a principal member of a truss extending from end to end, usually one of a pair of such members, more or less parallel and connected by a web composed of various compression and tension members.
Aeronautics. a straight line joining the trailing and leading edges of an airfoil section.
Anatomy. cord(def 6).

Origin of chord

1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin chorda < Greek chordḗ gut, string; replacing cord in senses given

OTHER WORDS FROM chord

chord·ed, adjective

Words nearby chord

choragus, choral, choral speaking, chorale, chorale prelude, chord, chord chart, chord of the sixth, chord organ, chord symbol, chord-

Definition for chord (2 of 2)

chord 2
[ kawrd ]
/ kɔrd /

noun

a combination of usually three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously.

verb (used with object)

to establish or play a chord or chords for (a particular harmony or song); harmonize or voice: How would you chord that in B flat?

Origin of chord

2
1350–1400; earlier cord, Middle English, short for accord; ch- from chord1

Words related to chord

trajectory, arc, arch, contour, loop, arrangement, unity, melody, composition, tune, swerve, sweep, hairpin, crook, bend, whorl, ambit, concavity, circle, quirk

Example sentences from the Web for chord

British Dictionary definitions for chord (1 of 2)

chord 1
/ (kɔːd) /

noun

maths
  1. a straight line connecting two points on a curve or curved surface
  2. the line segment lying between two points of intersection of a straight line and a curve or curved surface
engineering one of the principal members of a truss, esp one that lies along the top or the bottom
anatomy a variant spelling of cord
an emotional response, esp one of sympathy the story struck the right chord
an imaginary straight line joining the leading edge and the trailing edge of an aerofoil
archaic the string of a musical instrument

Derived forms of chord

chorded, adjective

Word Origin for chord

C16: from Latin chorda, from Greek khordē gut, string; see cord

British Dictionary definitions for chord (2 of 2)

chord 2
/ (kɔːd) /

noun

the simultaneous sounding of a group of musical notes, usually three or more in number See concord (def. 4), discord (def. 3)

verb

(tr) to provide (a melodic line) with chords

Derived forms of chord

chordal, adjective

Word Origin for chord

C15: short for accord; spelling influenced by chord 1

Medical definitions for chord

chord
[ kôrd ]

n.

Variant ofcord

Scientific definitions for chord

chord
[ kôrd ]

A line segment that joins two points on a curve.
A straight line connecting the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil.

Cultural definitions for chord

chord

In music, the sound of three or more notes played at the same time. The history of Western music is marked by an increase in complexity of the chords composers use.

Idioms and Phrases with chord

chord

see strike a chord.