octave UK /ˈɒktɪv/US /ˈɑktɪv/noun 11adjective 1forms 1 noun11 •An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch frequency.The melody jumps up an octave at the beginning, then later drops back down an octave.The singer was known for astounding clarity over her entire five-octave range. •The pitch an octave higher than a given pitch.The bass starts on a low E, and the tenor comes in on the octave. •A poetic stanza consisting of eight lines; usually used as one part of a sonnet.With mournful melody it continued this octave. — 1587 •The subjective vibration of a planet.Mercury then joins its higher octave and generous counterpart Jupiter early next week, and it opens gates of opportunity. — 2016 •An eight-day period beginning on a feast day in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.Of an Octave the Office is said. or at least commemorated, (when any Sunday or Feast intervene), for eight successive days. — 1870 •The day that is one week after a feast day in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.It was extended to the entire Church by 1814, and then in 1913 the feast was transferred to September 15, the octave day of the Birth of Mary and the day after the Exaltation of the Cross. — 2014 •Any of a number of coherent-noise functions of differing frequency that are added together to form Perlin noise. •A coupler on an organ which allows the organist to sound the note an octave above the note of the key pressed (cf sub-octave) •The eighth defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword out straight at knee level.If they always do a lateral parry quarte, and never a semicircular octave, that gives you an opening. — 2009 •A small cask of wine, one eighth of a pipe. •(no longer used) An octonion. adjective1 •(no longer used) Consisting of eight; eight in number.Boccace[…] is said to have invented the octave rhye — 1700 formsoctaves
