Langimage
English

tonality

|to/na/li/ty|

B2

🇺🇸

/toʊˈnælɪti/

🇬🇧

/təʊˈnælɪti/

musical tone quality

Etymology
Etymology Information

'tonality' originates from the French word 'tonalité', which is derived from 'tonal', meaning 'pertaining to tone'.

Historical Evolution

'tonalité' transformed into the English word 'tonality' in the 19th century.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to the 'quality of tone', but over time it evolved to include the 'organization of tones in music'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

the character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.

The tonality of the singer's voice was rich and warm.

Synonyms

Noun 2

the organization of all the tones and harmonies of a piece of music in relation to a tonic.

The symphony was composed in a major tonality.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42