Meaning & use
diapason
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Meanings
nouncountable
A full, rich flow of harmonious sound, especially from music or many voices together.
Grammar: Use it with an or the when you mean one such sound: a diapason of strings; the diapason of the choir.
Patterns
- a diapason of something
The final chord filled the hall with a diapason of sound.
A diapason of voices rose from the crowd as the anthem began.
The orchestra's closing passage was a diapason of strings and brass.
nouncountabletechnicalmusic
The main set of pipes on a pipe organ that gives the instrument its full, basic tone.
Grammar: Often used in the plural: the diapasons; it can also be used like an adjective before another noun: diapason stop.
Patterns
- the diapason stops
- play the diapasons
The organist pulled out the diapasons for the opening hymn.
The diapason gives the organ its warm, solid foundation.
He tuned the diapason pipes before the recital.
nouncountableformalliterary
The full range of a voice or instrument; an entire compass of pitch.
Grammar: More common in older or formal writing; usually with the: the diapason of the human voice.
Patterns
- the diapason of something
Her voice covered the whole diapason from low alto to high soprano.
The poem explores the diapason of human emotion.
Word forms
| plural | diapasons |
|---|
Common combinations
- a diapason of sound
- A diapason of sound rolled through the cathedral.
- the diapason stops
- The diapason stops produce the organ's core tone.
- full diapason
- The choir sang in full diapason.
- diapason pipes
- The diapason pipes need regular tuning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- harmony
- Harmony focuses on pleasing combination of notes, while diapason suggests a powerful, full outpouring of sound.
- resonance
- Resonance is about deep, echoing quality; diapason is about the whole rich mass of sound.
- swell
- Swell is a gradual increase in sound; diapason is the full sound itself.
Opposites
Word family
- diapasonal adjective
- Relating to a diapason or its full sound.
Commonly confused: diapason or diaper? diapason or diaphragm?
diapason vs diaper
Diaper is a baby's cloth or absorbent garment; diapason is a musical term.
diapason vs diaphragm
Diaphragm is a muscle or a thin membrane; diapason is about sound or organ pipes.
Practice
The organist chose the _______ to give the hymn a deep, solid foundation.
Choose one answer.
The plural 'diapasons' is the usual way to refer to the set of organ pipes; 'diapason' is singular and would need 'the diapason stop' or 'a diapason', while 'diapasonal' is an adjective and 'diapasoning' is not a word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “diapason”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.