Category:Chromatic

Chro*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. chromaticus, Gr.

1. Relating to color, or to colors.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: Proceeding by the smaller intervals (half steps or semitones) of the scale, instead of the regular intervals of the diatonic scale.

Note: The intermediate tones were formerly written and printed in colors. Chromatic aberration. (Opt.) See Aberration, 4. -- Chromatic printing, printing from type or blocks covered with inks of various colors. -- Chromatic scale (Mus.), the scale consisting of thirteen tones, including the eight scale tones and the five intermediate tones.