octave
/ˈɑktɪv/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.08 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch frequency.
noun
A coupler on an organ which allows the organist to sound the note an octave above the note of the key pressed (cf sub-octave)
noun
The eighth defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword out straight at knee level.
noun
The day that is one week after a feast day in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.
noun
An eight-day period beginning on a feast day in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.
noun
A small cask of wine, one eighth of a pipe.
Example Sentences
- "The melody jumps up an octave at the beginning, then later drops back down an octave."
- "The singer was known for astounding clarity over her entire five-octave range."
- "The octave has a pitch ratio of 2:1."
- "The bass starts on a low E, and the tenor comes in on the octave."
- "With mournful melody it continued this octave."
- "If they always do a lateral parry quarte, and never a semicircular octave, that gives you an opening."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɑktɪv/
- British English: /ˈɒktɪv/