unison
noun/ˈjunɪsən/ · /ˈjunɪzən/
Etymology From Middle English unisoun, from Middle French unisson, from Medieval Latin ūnisonus (“having the same sound”), from ūni- + sonus (“sound”).
1
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Usually Identical pitch between two notes or sounds; the simultaneous playing of notes of identical pitch (or separated by one or more octaves).
- The unison has a pitch ratio of 1:1.
- The young principal timpanist, Timothy Genis, was superb throughout, though his sidekick timpanist sometimes lagged in the final unisons.2007 July 16, James R. Oestreich, “With Levine as Tour Guide, a Journey Through Mahler’s Third Symphony”, in New York Times:
2
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Usually A sound or note having the same pitch as another, especially when used as the base note for an interval; a unison string.
- I could not behold him without emotion; when he accosted me, his well-known voice made my heart vibrate, like a musical chord, when its unison is struck.1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
3
Usually The state of being in harmony or agreement; harmonious agreement or togetherness, synchronisation.
- Everyone moved in unison, but the sudden change in weight distribution capsized the boat.
4
Broadly, Usually Two or more voices speaking or singing the same words together.
- Derived terms
- augmented unison, in unison, nonunison, perfect unison, unisonal, unisonance, unisonant, unisonous
- Related terms
- unification, union, unionization, unitedness, unity