Octave
Octave , noun
[French, from Latin octava an eighth, from octavus eighth, from octo eight. See Eight, and compare Octavo, Utas.]
1.
The eighth day after a church festival, the festival day being included; also, the week following a church festival.
The octaves of Easter.
2.
(a) (Music) The eighth tone in the scale; the interval between one and eight of the scale, or any interval of equal length; an interval of five tones and two semitones.
(b)
(Music) The whole diatonic scale itself.
The ratio of a musical tone to its octave above is 1:2 as regards the number of vibrations producing the tones.
3.
(Poet.) The first two stanzas of a sonnet, consisting of four verses each; a stanza of eight lines.
With mournful melody it continued this octave.
Collocations (2)
Octave flute (Music) , a small flute, the tones of which range an octave higher than those of the German or ordinary flute; -- called also piccolo. See Piccolo.
4.
A small cask of wine, the eighth part of a pipe.
Octave , adjective
Consisting of eight; eight. — Dryden