Reading Theme:
Harmony Definition: Peace, Music & Color Usage (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：peaceful coexistence (harmony)
harmony
/ˈhɑːr.mə.ni/
n.
When people live or work together peacefully and agree with each other, with no fighting.
peaceful coexistence
➕
/ˈpiːs.fəl ˌkoʊ.ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/
n.
A state of peaceful agreement and mutual support among people or groups.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Greek 'harmonia' meaning 'fitting together' (harmos = joint).
💡 Mnemonic
No harm in harmony: when people agree, harm disappears.
📖 Example
The key to a happy team is harmony among its members, where everyone supports each other's ideas.
The secret to a joyful team lies in the harmony of its members, where mutual support thrives.
🔗 Collocations
live in harmony – to live together peacefully without conflict
social harmony – peaceful coexistence in a community or society
restore harmony – bring back peaceful relations after a disagreement
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
harmonious (adj.) – marked by agreement in feeling, attitude, or action
harmonize (v.) – to bring into agreement or cooperative arrangement
harmoniously (adv.) – in a way that is free from disagreement or conflict
📖 Cultural Story
In ancient Greek music theory, harmonia referred to the octave—a perfect consonance. Philosophers like Plato used it to describe social and cosmic order, later adopted into English via Old French 'harmonie'.
Meaning 2：pleasing combination (harmony)
harmony
/ˈhɑːr.mə.ni/
n.
When different things, colors, or ideas are combined in a way that is pleasing, suitable, and seems just right.
pleasing combination
➕
/ˈpliː.zɪŋ ˌkɒm.bɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
n.
A combination of elements (such as colors, shapes, or ideas) that is aesthetically satisfying and well-balanced.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The interior designer achieved a perfect harmony between modern furniture and the classic architecture of the old apartment.
The interior designer achieved a perfect harmony between modern furniture and the classic architecture of the old apartment.
🔗 Collocations
color harmony – a visually pleasing arrangement of colors
achieve harmony – successfully create a balanced and unified effect
in harmony with – matching or fitting well with something else
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
clash (n.) – a conflict of colors, styles, or ideas
dissonance (n.) – a lack of harmony among elements
incongruity (n.) – the state of being out of place or inconsistent
🌱 Derivatives
harmonious (adj.) – forming a pleasing and consistent whole
harmonize (v.) – to bring into a pleasing combination
harmonization (n.) – the process of making things compatible or consistent
Meaning 3：musical chord blend (harmony)
harmony
/ˈhɑːr.mə.ni/
n.
In music, the pleasant sound created when different notes are played or sung together at the same time, supporting the main tune.
musical chord blend
➕
/ˈmjuː.zɪ.kəl kɔːrd blend/
n.
In music, the combination of simultaneously sounded notes that produces a pleasant effect and supports the melody.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The choir's beautiful harmony in the final verse of the hymn moved many people in the audience to tears.
The choir's beautiful harmony in the final verse of the hymn moved many people in the audience to tears.
🔗 Collocations
sing in harmony – to sing different notes that combine pleasingly
vocal harmony – the harmony produced by voices singing together
write harmonies – to compose multiple note lines that support the melody
🔄 Synonyms
consonance (n.) – a combination of notes that sounds pleasant and stable
chord (n.) – a group of three or more notes played together
polyphony (n.) – a style of music with two or more independent melodies
🚫 Antonyms
dissonance (n.) – a combination of notes that sounds harsh or tense
cacophony (n.) – a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
noise (n.) – unwanted or unpleasant sound
🌱 Derivatives
harmonious (adj.) – of or relating to harmony in music
harmonist (n.) – a musician who specializes in harmony
harmonization (n.) – the act of adding harmony to a melody
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