English Reference

Word

chroma

Phoneticschro·ma

Definition

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.

Examples

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

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

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

Examples

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.”

Word family

chromaNounchromaticAdjective

Domain

Music

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference