complex tone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complex tone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a tone that is intricate, multifaceted, or has various layers of meaning, often in contexts like music, literature, or communication. Example: "The author's use of a complex tone in the narrative adds depth to the characters and their motivations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

A complex tone consists of two or more simple tones, called overtones.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The beginning feels awkward: remnants of an older style full of grabby italics and wisecracking dialogue sit uncomfortably alongside the richer, more complex tone that takes over.

The Guardian - Books

Managing the complex tone of black humor in the face of horror, he surveys bodies lying in an East Village boutique and when told it's a "vintage" clothing shop, says, "Oh, yeah, I think I recognized my old bowling shirt".

The New York Times

The illustration shows the wave form that results when pure tones of frequencies 100, 300, and 500 hertz (cycles per second) and relative amplitudes of 10, 5, and 2.5 are synthesized into a complex tone.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Suffice to say, the title presages a darker and more complex tone, and the simmering transatlantic dilemma that was central to Celine and Jesse's relationship (now a marriage of eight years), and crucial to the suspense of the first two movies, now asserts itself loudly and painfully, as Jesse openly pines for a return home, and Celine openly mocks Jesse's literary and sexual potency.

The Guardian - Film

The German physicist Georg Simon Ohm first suggested that the ear is sensitive to these spectral components; his idea that the ear is sensitive to the amplitudes but not the phases of the harmonics of a complex tone is known as Ohm's law of hearing (distinguishing it from the more famous Ohm's law of electrical resistance).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Any improvements in pure-tone discrimination must transfer to complex-tone discrimination (see [7]), especially vocal tones, in order to conclude that improved auditory skills may result in better error detection in auditory feedback and more accurate singing.

Plosone

Under this assumption, the pure-tone condition would be expected to yield a similar pattern of results as the complex-tone condition.

Cerebral Cortex

We randomly selected 15 subjects from the Face+Voice and Face+Complex Tone conditions.

Plosone

This measure provides another useful index of whether the vervets found the matching Face+Voice stimuli more arousing than the Face+Complex Tone stimuli.

Plosone

Consistent with the "anxiety" interpretation, the vervets' overall looking time in the Face+Complex Tone experiment was 3-times higher than in the Face+Voice experiment.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing music or acoustics, use "complex tone" to describe a sound with multiple frequencies or harmonics to provide a deeper understanding of the sound's composition.

Common error

Avoid using "complex tone" interchangeably with "timbre". While a "complex tone" contributes to timbre, timbre encompasses all qualities that distinguish sounds, not just the presence of multiple frequencies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complex tone" functions primarily as a noun phrase, specifically an adjective-noun combination. It describes a type of sound characterized by its multiple frequency components. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "complex tone" is a grammatically correct and usable term, primarily functioning as a noun phrase. As Ludwig confirms, it describes sounds composed of multiple frequencies or harmonics and is most frequently encountered in scientific and technical contexts related to acoustics and music. While "complex tone" isn't extremely common, it is vital in technical discussions, offering a specific way to describe a multifaceted sound. When using this phrase, ensure it correctly signifies a sound with multiple frequencies, and avoid confusing it with the broader concept of timbre.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complex sound

A more general term, applicable in various contexts.

composite tone

Similar to 'compound sound', indicating a combination of tones.

harmonic mixture

Specifically refers to the combination of different harmonics.

intricate sound

Highlights the detailed and elaborate nature of the sound.

compound sound

Indicates a sound made up of multiple components.

multifaceted tone

Emphasizes the many aspects or components of the tone.

rich timbre

Focuses on the quality of sound beyond just the fundamental frequency.

detailed sonic texture

Focuses on the complexity and richness of the sound's texture.

layered sound

Emphasizes the presence of multiple overlapping sounds.

modulated tone

Highlights the changing nature of the tone's characteristics.

FAQs

How is a "complex tone" different from a simple tone?

A "complex tone" consists of two or more simple tones (overtones), while a simple tone has only one frequency.

In what fields is the term "complex tone" commonly used?

The term "complex tone" is commonly used in acoustics, music, and speech processing, particularly when discussing the harmonic content of sounds.

What contributes to the perception of a "complex tone"?

The distribution of spectral energy and the presence of vibrato can significantly affect pitch perception in a "complex tone".

What are some alternative phrases to "complex tone"?

Alternatives to "complex tone" include "composite tone", "harmonic mixture", or simply "complex sound", depending on the context.