figured bass
[ beys ]
/ beɪs /
noun Music.
a bass part in which the notes have numbers under them indicating the chords to be played.
Origin of figured bass
First recorded in 1795–1805
Words nearby figured bass
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figured bass,
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British Dictionary definitions for figured bass
figured bass
/ (beɪs) /
noun
a shorthand method of indicating a thorough-bass part in which each bass note is accompanied by figures indicating the intervals to be played in the chord above it in the realization