CultureAugust 31, 2026

tritone

TRY-tohn

Definition

A musical interval spanning exactly three whole tones, historically notorious in Western music for its dissonant, unstable, and tension-filled sound.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'tritonus,' meaning 'three tones,' as it is composed of three whole steps or six semitones. It was historically nicknamed the 'diabolus in musica' or 'the devil in music' due to its perceived harshness.

In the news

The article mentions the 'tritone' in the context of the track 'Diabolus in Musica,' highlighting how the artist transforms this historically 'dissonant' interval into a modern avant-pop composition.

Faust’s Jean-Hervé Péron Turns A Lifetime Of Ideas Into Experimental New Album ‘MOI’

Read the full article ↗

That Eric Alper

Related words

coachbuilders

Craftspeople or companies who design and manufacture custom bodies for automotive chassis…

Culture

compatibilism

The philosophical belief that free will and determinism are not mutually exclusive and…

Culture

dadaist

Relating to or characteristic of Dada, an art movement that rejects logic, reason, and…

Culture

egalitarianism

The political or social doctrine that advocates for total equality of outcomes and the…

Culture

epergnes

An ornamental stand or centerpiece, typically made of silver, placed on a dining table to…

Culture

laicisation

The formal process of a member of the clergy being released from their religious vows and…

Culture

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.