unison

views updated May 21 2018

u·ni·son / ˈyoōnəsən; -zən/ • n. 1. simultaneous performance of action or utterance of speech: “Yes, sir,” said the girls in unison. 2. Mus. coincidence in pitch of sounds or notes: the flutes play in unison with the violas. ∎  a combination of notes, voices, or instruments at the same pitch or (esp. when singing) in octaves: good unisons are formed by flutes, oboes, and clarinets.• adj. performed in unison.DERIVATIVES: u·nis·o·nous / yoōˈnisənəs/ adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

unison

views updated May 23 2018

unison (mus.) identity of pitch XVI; exact agreement XVII. — (O)F. unison (mod. unisson) or late L. ūnisonus of the same sound, f. UNI- + sonus SOUND3.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

unison

views updated May 17 2018

unison. Sounding of the same note by all perf., e.g. unison singing, everyone singing the same tune but not in harmony.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE

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