harmony

/ˈhɑː.mə.ni/
nounIntermediate agreement or consistency among elements
general

A state of peaceful agreement or consistent interaction among elements.

The colors in the painting created a sense of harmony.

The colors worked together to create a balanced and pleasing effect.

💡

Often used to describe musical, visual, or interpersonal balance.

technical

In music, the combination of notes played simultaneously to create chords.

The composer used complex harmonies to evoke emotion.

The composer arranged notes in chords to create a rich, layered sound.

💡

In music theory, harmony refers to the vertical structure of chords.

Collocations

in harmony within agreement or alignment withmusical harmonythe study of chords and chord progressions

Related Phrases

in perfect harmonyphrase
in complete agreement or balance
harmony of the spheresmetaphor
a metaphorical concept of cosmic order

💡Pro Tip

Musical vs. General Use

In music, 'harmony' refers to chords, while in general use, it describes balance or agreement.

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

'Harmony' is often used metaphorically. Ensure it fits the context to avoid clichés.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'harmonie,' from Old French 'harmonie,' from Latin 'harmonia,' from Greek 'harmonía' (fitting together, joint, union).

📝Usage Notes

Can refer to both literal and metaphorical balance. In music, it specifically refers to chord structures.

Word Breakdown

harmon
fitting together, joint
root
+
-y
state or condition of
suffix
English Dictionary