- a group of (typically three or more) notes sounded together, as a basis of harmony和弦, 和音：
the triumphal opening chords
欢庆胜利的开场和弦
a G major chord.
G大调和弦。
派生词
chordal
adjective词源
Middle English cord, from ACCORD. The spelling change in the 18th cent. was due to confusion with CHORD2. The original sense was 'agreement， reconciliation'， later 'a musical concord or harmonious sound'; the current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.
1
- Mathematics a straight line joining the ends of an arc【数】弦。
1.1
- Aeronautics the width of an aerofoil from leading to trailing edge【航空】翼弦。
1.2
- Engineering each of the two principal members of a truss【工程】弦杆, 桁弦。
2
- Anatomy variant spelling of CORD.【剖】同CORD:
spinal chord.
脊髓。
3
- poetic/literary a string on a harp or other instrument〈诗/文〉（竖琴等）弦。
USAGE
In modern English there are two words spelled chord： the first is the musical term 'a group of notes sounded together', and the second is a technical term in mathematics, aeronautics, and engineering. Cord meaning 'string or rope made from twisted strands' is etymologically related to the second chord but is now regarded as a distinct word. The anatomical term generally uses the spelling cord （as in spinal cord and vocal cord）, although chord is an acceptable variant.
短语
strike（或touch）a chord
- affect or stir someone's emotions触动某人的心弦：
the issue of food safety strikes a chord with almost everyone.
食品安全的问题几乎触动每个人的心弦。
ORIGIN: with figurative reference to the emotions being the 'strings' of the mind visualized as a musical instrument.
strike（或touch）the right chord
- skilfully appeal to or arouse a particular emotion in others感染（某人）; 触动：
Dickens knew how to strike the right chord in the hearts of his readers.
狄更斯知道如何感染读者。
词源
mid 16th cent. (in the anatomical sense)： a later spelling （influenced by Latin chorda 'rope'） of CORD.