Chro-măt'ic, a.

a. [Fr. chromatique, Lat. chromaticus, from Gr. χρωματικός, suited for color, from χρῶμα, color, from χρωννύναι, χρώζειν, for χροΐζειν, to color, from χροιά, color, akin to χρώς, skin, color of the skin.]

1Sense 1. Relating to color, or to colors. “The third part of painting, which is called the chromatic or coloring.” Dryden.

2Sense 2. (Mus.) Proceeding by the smaller intervals (half-steps or semitones) of the scale, instead of the regular intervals of the diatonic scale.

☞ The name is derived from the fact that the intermediate tones were formerly written and printed in colors.