chord

1 of 3

noun (1)

: three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously

chord

2 of 3

verb

chorded; chording; chords

intransitive verb

1
: accord
2
: to play chords especially on a stringed instrument

transitive verb

1
: to make chords on
2

chord

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
2
: a straight line segment joining and included between two points on a circle
broadly : a straight line joining two points on a curve
3
: an individual emotion or disposition
struck a responsive chord
4
: either of the two outside members of a truss connected and braced by the web members
5
: the straight line distance joining the leading and trailing edges of an airfoil

Examples of chord in a Sentence

Verb the revised system chords perfectly with the original goals Noun (2) the story of the family's woes struck a sympathetic chord with newspaper readers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Millennial Man’s Realization About Why The World Feels Wrong Goes Viral By Melissa Fleur Afshar Life and Trends Reporter A 35-year-old man's candid take on why more people seem to be struggling with their mental health than ever before has struck a chord with viewers online. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024 In an era rife with challenges, Foxx’s message of hope and appreciation strikes a chord, reminding us that laughter can be a potent remedy for both visible and hidden struggles. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
Hypersonic passenger planes, deep-sea thermal-energy power plants, chording keyboards—all have their adherents, eager to jump at the chance of covering their infatuation. IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2024 With the brand new Mike McCready Stratocaster, the artist now has a guitar designed to his specifics, including a custom pickup set to sound like his 1960 Stratocaster, a six-point tremolo, and a fingerboard radius that has enough arc for chording and easier note bending. Daniel Kohn, Spin, 12 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for chord 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alteration of Middle English cord, short for accord

Noun (2)

alteration of cord entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1608, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chord was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near chord

Cite this Entry

“Chord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chord. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

chord

1 of 3 noun
: a group of three or more tones sounded together to form harmony
chordal
-əl
adjective

chord

2 of 3 verb
: to play chords

chord

3 of 3 noun
: a straight line between two points on a curve

Medical Definition

chord

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chord

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