Category:Octave

Oc"tave, n. Etym: [f., fr. L. octava an eighth, fr. octavus eighth, Fr. octo eight. See eight, and cf. Octavo, utas.]

1. The eighth day after a church festival, the festival day being Included; also, the week following a church festival. "the octaves of Easter." Jer. Taylor.

2. (mus.) (a) the eighth tone in the scale; the interval between one and eight Of the scale, or any interval of equal length; an interval of five Tones and two semitones. (b) the whole diatonic scale itself.

Note: the ratio of a musical tone to its octave above is 1:2 as Regards the number of vibrations producing the tones.

3. (poet.)

Defn: the first two stanzas of a sonnet, consisting of four verses Each; a stanza of eight lines. With mournful melody it continued this octave. Sir p. Sidney. Double octave. (mus.) See under double. -- octave flute (mus.), a small flute, the tones of which range an Octave higher than those of the german or ordinary flute; -- called Also piccolo. See piccolo.

4. A small cask of wine, the eighth part of a pipe.

Octave Oc"tave, a.

Defn: consisting of eight; eight. Dryden.