ondes musicales

noun

ondes mu·​si·​cales

ōⁿdmᵫ̅zēkȧl

variants or ondes martenot

ōⁿdmȧrtənō

plural ondes musicales

like singular

or ondes martenot

like singular

often capitalized O&M

: a melodic electrophone capable of producing quarter tones and eighth tones

Word History

Etymology

ondes musicales from French, literally, musical waves; ondes martenot from French, literally, Martenot waves, after Maurice Martenot, born 1898 French musician, its inventor

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