Harmonics
/hɑːrˈmɒn.ɪks/noun
The study or use of musical tones that are related by whole-number frequency ratios, or the overtones produced by a fundamental tone.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek ideas of fitting and joining, and in ancient thought harmony was not just music — it was a model for how the cosmos was supposed to be aligned.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ar-
“to fit together, join”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἁρμονικός (harmonikós)
“pertaining to joining, fitting, or musical harmony”
Late Latin
Latin
harmonicus
“harmonious, musical”
Middle English
English
harmonique / harmonike
“relating to harmony or musical proportion”
Modern English
English
harmonics
“tones, frequencies, or the study of their relationships”
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