noun
Uncommon
octave
OK-tihv
Octave (noun) means the musical distance between one note and another note with double or half its pitch frequency, spanning eight notes of the scale. Example: “She sang the final line an octave higher than written.”
noun
1
The musical distance between one note and another note with double or half its pitch frequency, spanning eight notes of the scale.
"She sang the final line an octave higher than written."
"A piano keyboard repeats the same twelve notes in every octave."
2
A stanza or unit of eight lines of poetry, especially the opening eight lines of a sonnet.
"The octave sets up the problem, and the closing sestet answers it."
How to use octave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA jump of eight notes in music, or a block of eight lines in a poem.
Common pairings
an octave higher
sing in octaves
the opening octave of a sonnet
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Word forms
- Plural
- octaves
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sang the final line an _____ higher than written.
Etymology
From Latin octavus, "eighth" — the same root that gives us "October" and "octet".
Synonyms
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musical octave
Rhymes for octave
See all rhymes for octave →Frequently asked questions
What does “octave” mean?
The word “octave” means the musical distance between one note and another note with double or half its pitch frequency, spanning eight notes of the scale. In plain terms, a jump of eight notes in music, or a block of eight lines in a poem.
How do you pronounce “octave”?
“Octave” is pronounced OK-tihv (/ˈɑktɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “octave” in a sentence?
Here is “octave” used in a sentence: “She sang the final line an octave higher than written.”
What part of speech is “octave”?
“Octave” is a noun.
Where does the word “octave” come from?
The word “octave” comes from Latin. From Latin octavus, "eighth" — the same root that gives us "October" and "octet".
Is “octave” a common word?
“Octave” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “octave” have?
“Octave” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the musical distance between one note and another note with double or half its pitch frequency, spanning eight notes of the scale.
