Added 9 October 2026
octave
/ˈɒktɪv/ noun
Latin root: octavus Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about octave at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch frequency.
The melody jumps up an octave at the beginning, then later drops back down an octave.
-
The pitch an octave higher than a given pitch.
The bass starts on a low E, and the tenor comes in on the octave.
- 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)
verb
- Alternative form of octavate.
adjective
- Consisting of eight; eight in number.
Origin
From Latin octavus (“eighth”). Doublet of octavo, ochava, and oitava.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)