octave Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a feast day and the seven days following it
  2. noun a musical interval of eight tones
    musical octave.
  3. noun a rhythmic group of eight lines of verse

WordNet

Oc"tave noun
Etymology
F., fr. L. octava an eighth, fr. octavus eighth, fr. octo eight. See Eight, and cf. Octavo, Utas.
Definitions
  1. The eighth day after a church festival, the festival day being included; also, the week following a church festival. "The octaves of Easter." Jer. Taylor.
  2. (Mus.) (a) 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) 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. Sir P. Sidney.
  4. A small cask of wine, the eighth part of a pipe.
Oc"tave adjective
Definitions
  1. Consisting of eight; eight. Dryden.

Webster 1913