chromatic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective able to refract light without spectral color separation
    • chromatic lens
  2. adjective based on a scale consisting of 12 semitones
    • a chromatic scale
  3. adjective being or having or characterized by hue

WordNet

Chro*mat"ic adjective
Etymology
L. chromaticus, Gr. , suited for color, fr. , , color; akin to color, skin, color of the skin.
Definitions
  1. Relating to color, or to colors.
  2. (Mus.) Proceeding by the smaller intervals (half steps or semitones) of the scale, instead of the regular intervals of the diatonic scale. ✍ The intermediate tones were formerly written and printed in colors.

Webster 1913