unison

[ yoo-nuh-suh n, -zuh n ]
/ ˈyu nə sən, -zən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR unison ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

coincidence in pitch of two or more musical tones, voices, etc.
the musical interval of a perfect prime.
the performance of musical parts at the same pitch or at the octave.
a sounding together in octaves, especially of male and female voices or of higher and lower instruments of the same class.
a process in which all elements behave in the same way at the same time; simultaneous or synchronous parallel action: to march in unison.

Idioms for unison

    in unison, in perfect accord; corresponding exactly: My feelings on the subject are in unison with yours.

Origin of unison

1565–75; < Medieval Latin ūnisonus of a single sound, equivalent to Latin ūni- uni- + sonus sound

OTHER WORDS FROM unison

non·u·ni·son, noun

Words nearby unison

uniserial, uniseriate, unisex, unisexual, unisize, unison, unisonous, unispiral, unit, unit card, unit cell

Words related to unison

league, concordance, consonance, federation, reciprocity, concord, union, consent, accordance, unanimity, accord, community, agreement, sympathy, unity, alliance, cooperation, conjunction, concert

Example sentences from the Web for unison

British Dictionary definitions for unison (1 of 2)

unison
/ (ˈjuːnɪsən, -zən) /

noun

music
  1. the interval between two sounds of identical pitch
  2. (modifier) played or sung at the same pitchunison singing
complete agreement; harmony (esp in the phrase in unison)

Derived forms of unison

unisonous, unisonal or unisonant, adjective

Word Origin for unison

C16: from Late Latin ūnisonus, from uni- + sonus sound

British Dictionary definitions for unison (2 of 2)

UNISON
/ (ˈjuːnɪsən) /

noun

(in Britain) a trade union representing local government, health care, and other workers: formed in 1993 by the amalgamation of COHSE, NALGO, and NUPE

Cultural definitions for unison

unison

Playing or singing the same musical notes, or notes separated from each other by one or several octaves. Musicians who perform in unison are not playing or singing chords.