anharmonic
|an-har-mon-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.hɑrˈmɑnɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.hɑːˈmɒnɪk/
not purely harmonic; nonlinear
Etymology
'anharmonic' originates from 'Greek', specifically the prefix 'an-' meaning 'not, without' combined with 'harmonikos' (from 'harmonia') meaning 'harmonic, of harmony'.
'anharmonic' changed from the combination of Greek elements: 'an-' + 'harmonikos'; 'harmonikos' passed into Latin as 'harmonicus' and French as 'harmonique', yielding English 'harmonic', and English later formed the modern word 'anharmonic' by adding the Greek-derived prefix.
Initially, it meant 'not harmonic' in a general sense, but over time it evolved into a technical term in physics referring to nonlinear deviations from ideal harmonic behavior.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
in physics, deviating from ideal harmonic behavior; nonlinear, as in an oscillator or potential where the restoring force is not strictly proportional to displacement.
An anharmonic oscillator exhibits frequency shifts that depend on the amplitude of the motion.
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Adjective 2
not purely harmonic or smoothly consonant; lacking perfect harmony (used more generally about sound or relationships).
The composer embraced an anharmonic texture to create tension in the movement.
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Last updated: 2025/08/10 13:53