Chord
/kɔːrd/noun
A group of three or more musical notes played together, or a straight line joining two points on a curve.
Did you know?In medieval and Renaissance theory, musical chords were understood through the physical reality of string lengths, which is why the word’s history is tied to measuring vibration, not just beauty.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sker-
“to cut”
Ancient Greek
Greek
χορδή (khordḗ)
“a string, gut, or cord, especially for a musical instrument”
Late Latin
Latin
chorda
“a string, cord, or gut”
Old French
Old French
corde
“a cord or string”
Middle English
English
corde / chord
“a string, cord, or musical string”
Modern English
English
chord
“a combination of musical notes sounded together; also a straight line joining two points on a curve”