chord¹ / kôrd/ • n. a group of (typically three or more) notes sounded together, as a basis of harmony: a G major chord.• v. [intr.] [usu. as n.] (chording) play, sing, or arrange notes in chords.DERIVATIVES: chord·al / ˈkôrdl/ adj.chord² • n. 1. Math. a straight line joining the ends of an arc. ∎  Aeron. the width of an airfoil from leading to trailing edge. ∎  Engineering each of the two principal members of a truss.2. Anat. variant spelling of cord: spinal chord.3. poetic/lit. a string on a harp or other instrument.PHRASES: strike (or touch) a chord affect or stir someone's emotions. [ORIGIN: with figurative reference to the emotions being the ‘strings’ of the mind visualized as a musical instrument.]

chord.
1. Straight line joining two points on an arc.

2. Span of an arch.

3. Diameter of an apse or a semicircular arch.

4. Principal member of a truss, usually one of a pair extending along the top and bottom.

5. Lower straight part of a Belfast or bowstring truss.

chord In music, the simultaneous occurrence of three or more musical tones of different pitch. Chords are categorized as anomalous, characteristic, common, inverted or transient. See also harmony

chord 2 †tendon; line joining extremities of an arc XVI; string of musical instrument. refash. of CORD, after L. chorda.

chord 1 †harmony XV; (mus.) concord, note of a chord XVI; combination in harmony of simultaneous notes XVIII. orig. cord, aphetic of ACCORD.