diapasão

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from French diapason.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒi.a.paˈzɐ̃w̃/ [d͡ʒi.a.paˈzɐ̃ʊ̯̃], (faster) /d͡ʒja.paˈzɐ̃w̃/ [d͡ʒja.paˈzɐ̃ʊ̯̃]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /di.ɐ.pɐˈzɐ̃w̃/, (faster) /djɐ.pɐˈzɐ̃w̃/

Noun

diapasão m (plural diapasões)

1. (music) tuning fork (fork-shaped object which emits a tone)
2. (music) a musical note, generally A (la), used as a reference to tune instruments and voices
3. (music) any voice's or instrument's timbre, pitch or volume; the extension that a voice or instrument can reach
4. (music) in a normal sound scale, the position occupied by a voice or instrument
5. (by extension) small device used to diagnose deafness and other hearing-related conditions
6. (figuratively) a condition taken as a model or reference to make a comparison; level
7. (figuratively, colloquial) the vibrant pace or rhythm of life

Further reading

• “diapasão”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “diapasão”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026