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Webster 1913 Edition


Octave

Oc′tave

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
octava
an eighth, fr.
octavus
eighth, fr.
octo
eight. See
Eight
, and cf.
Octavo
,
Utas
.]
1.
The eighth day after a church festival, the festival day being included; also, the week following a church festival.
“The octaves of Easter.”
Jer. Taylor.
2.
(Mus.)
(a)
The eighth tone in the scale; the interval between one and eight of the scale, or any interval of equal length; an interval of five tones and two semitones.
(b)
The whole diatonic scale itself.
☞ The ratio of a musical tone to its octave above is 1:2 as regards the number of vibrations producing the tones.
3.
(Poet.)
The first two stanzas of a sonnet, consisting of four verses each; a stanza of eight lines.
With mournful melody it continued this
octave
.
Sir P. Sidney.
Double octave
.
(Mus.)
See under
Double
.
Octave flute
(Mus.)
,
a small flute, the tones of which range an octave higher than those of the German or ordinary flute; – called also
piccolo
. See
Piccolo
.
4.
A small cask of wine, the eighth part of a pipe.

Oc′tave

,
Adj.
Consisting of eight; eight.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition


Octave

OC'TAVE

,
Adj.
[infra.] Denoting eight.

OC'TAVE

,
Noun.
[L. octavus, eighth.]
1.
The eighth day after a festival.
2.
Eight days together after a festival.
3.
In music, an eighth, or an interval of seven degrees or twelve semitones. The octave is the most perfect of the chords, consisting of six full tones and two semitones major. It contains the whole diatonic scale.

Definition 2024


octave

octave

English

Noun

octave (plural octaves)

  1. (music) An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch.
    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.
  2. (music) The pitch an octave higher than a given pitch.
    The bass starts on a low E, and the tenor comes in on the octave.
  3. (music) 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)
  4. (poetry) A poetic stanza consisting of eight lines; usually used as one part of a sonnet.
    • Sir Philip Sidney
      With mournful melody it continued this octave.
  5. (fencing) The eighth defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword out straight at knee level.
    • 2009: Ray Finkleman
      If they always do a lateral parry quarte, and never a semicircular octave, that gives you an opening.
  6. (Christianity) The day that is one week after a feast day in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.
    • 2014: Jennifer Gregory Miller
      It was extended to the entire Church by 1814, and then in 1913 the feast was transferred to September 15, the octave day of the Birth of Mary and the day after the Exaltation of the Cross.
  7. (Christianity) An eight day period beginning on a feast day in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.
  8. A small cask of wine, one eighth of a pipe.
  9. (astrology) the subjectional vibration of a planet
    • Astrology club
      Lastly, Mars is Pluto’s lower vibrational octave and resonance because it is the ancient ruler, and modern day co-ruler of Scorpio – the sign of Pluto’s natural rulership.
    • 2016: Kristin Fontana, The Beach Reporter
      Mercury then joins its higher octave and generous counterpart Jupiter early next week, and it opens gates of opportunity.

Abbreviations

  • (interval): P8

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Adjective

octave (not comparable)

  1. (obsolete) Consisting of eight; eight in number.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)

Anagrams


Interlingua

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /okˈta.ve/

Adjective

octave

  1. eighth

Latin

Numeral

octave

  1. vocative masculine singular of octavus