chromatic

1 of 2

adjective

chro·​mat·​ic krō-ˈma-tik 

1

a

: of, relating to, or giving all the tones of the chromatic scale

b

: characterized by frequent use of accidentals

2

a

: of or relating to color or color phenomena or sensations

b

: highly colored

3

: of or relating to chroma

chromatically

krō-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

chromaticism

krō-ˈma-tə-ˌsi-zəm 

noun

chromatic

2 of 2

noun

: accidental sense 2

Synonyms

Adjective

• colored
• colorful
• kaleidoscopic
• motley
• multicolored
• multihued
• polychromatic
• polychrome
• prismatic
• rainbow
• varicolored
• varied
• variegated
• various

Examples of chromatic in a Sentence

Adjective

the strikingly chromatic paintings of Matisse and the other Fauvists

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Trills, angular licks, and chromatic riffs washed over the 100 or so gathered people. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Klum's daughter Leni also graced the carpet and posed briefly with her mom in a chromatic alien getup. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024

Noun

It’s this very simple chromatic ascending and descending motif. —Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2023

The octagonal steering wheel has small screens built in, while the glass roof has electro-chromatic panels that can individually adjust their opacity. —Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 5 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin chrōmaticus, borrowed from Greek chrōmatikós "of color (in rhetoric), of the chromatic scale," from chrōmat-, chrôma "skin, complexion, color, the chromatic scale" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at -chrome

Noun

derivative of chromatic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chromatic

• chromatic aberration
• chromatic scale

Kids Definition

chromatic

1 of 2 adjective

chro·​mat·​ic krō-ˈmat-ik 

1

: of or relating to color

especially : being a shade other than black, gray, or white

2

: of or relating to the chromatic scale

chromatically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

chromatic

2 of 2 noun

: accidental entry 2

Etymology

Adjective

from Greek chrōmatikos "relating to color," from chrōma "color"

Medical Definition

chromatic

adjective

chro·​mat·​ic krō-ˈmat-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by color or color phenomena or sensations

chromatic perception

chromatic stimuli

2

: capable of being colored by staining agents

chromatic substances