ENGLISH
REFERENCE

chroma

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced chro·ma

n. the quality of a sound that makes it sound rich or full. It is often used to describe how much color or depth a musical note has.

n. the quality of a sound that gives it a sense of richness or fullness. In music theory, it refers to the specific set of overtones or harmonics that distinguish one timbre from another.


SIMPLE

The piano has a very rich chroma compared to a flute.

CONTEXTUAL

The composer used a combination of strings and brass to create a dense chroma that filled the concert hall.

COMPLEX

While the melody remains simple, the underlying chroma of the orchestration provides a complex emotional depth that becomes more apparent with repeated listening.

Synonyms

© 2026 English Reference