First Known Use: 1922
Dictionary
atonal
adjective aton·al \(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nəl, (ˌ)a-\
music : not written, played, or sung in a particular key
Full Definition of ATONAL
: marked by avoidance of traditional musical tonality; especially : organized without reference to key or tonal center and using the tones of the chromatic scale impartially
— aton·al·ism \-nə-ˌli-zəm\ noun
— aton·al·ist \-list\ noun
— ato·nal·i·ty \ˌā-tō-ˈna-lə-tē, ˌa-\ noun
— aton·al·ly \(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nə-lē, (ˌ)a-\ adverb
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Origin of ATONAL
2a- + tonal
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