chord
/kɔɹd/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.65 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A line segment between two points of a curve.
noun
A horizontal member of a truss.
noun
A horizontal member of a truss.
noun
The distance between the leading and trailing edge of a wing, measured in the direction of the normal airflow.
noun
A keyboard shortcut that involves two or more distinct keypresses, such as Ctrl+M followed by P.
noun
The string of a musical instrument.
Example Sentences
- "He struck the opening chords of the passage; but this time Irene's voice was silent. Victor stopped in the middle of an arpeggio."
- "The simplest method of calculating the radius of a curve in situ is to measure the versine; in railway practice this is done by extending a tape 66 ft. (1 ch.) long in a straight line or chord between two points on the periphery of a curve, and then measuring the maximum distance of the rail from the chord at the centre of the 66 ft. The radius in chains is found by dividing the versine in inches into 99. Thus if a versine measures 3 in., the radius will be 33 ch."
- "Ctrl-K is the default first key for chords, but you can create chords using any keys that you want."
- "Instruments that made melodious Chime Was heard, of Harp and Organ; and who mov'd Their Stops and Chords was seen"
- "This chording technique works well for learning any tune, but this is the only tune of the set that I will write out completely as a chorded version."
- "This note chords with that one."
Etymology
Variant of cord, with spelling alteration due to Latin chorda (“cord”), ultimately from Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, “string of gut, the string of a lyre”). No relation to French accord (“chord”) and its derivations. Doublet of cuerda.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *ǵʰerH-, χορδή
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /kɔɹd/
- British English: /kɔːd/