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pitch

PICH /pɪtʃ/

nounverbB1TOEFLIELTS

generalacademictechnical

The relative highness or lowness of a tone, determined by the frequency of vibration of the sound waves producing it.

In music, pitch refers to a specific, measurable frequency (like A440), whereas in general speech, it refers to the rising and falling tones of voice that convey emotion or emphasis.

The story behind the word. The word 'pitch' originally had nothing to do with music; in Middle English, it meant to drive a stake into the ground or set up a tent. By the 16th century, this idea of 'fixing' something in a stable position was applied to sound, referring to the act of setting a voice or instrument to a specific, stable musical key.

Word relationships

tone: Tone is a broader term that can refer to both the pitch and the quality of a sound, whereas pitch refers strictly to the frequency.
frequency: Frequency is the scientific measurement of sound waves in Hertz, while pitch is the human perception of that frequency.

unpitched: Refers to sounds, like those of many percussion instruments, that do not have a definable musical frequency.

Commonly confused with

volume: Volume refers to the amplitude or loudness of a sound, whereas pitch refers to its frequency or highness.

Word family

pitched (adjective): Having a specific pitch (e.g., high-pitched).
pitchless (adjective): Lacking a definite musical pitch.

Collocations

perfect pitch
absolute pitch
high pitch
low pitch
pitch pipe

Idioms & expressions

fever pitch
pitch-perfect
make a pitch

Example sentences

"The orchestra tuned their instruments to the standard pitch of A440." Acoustic science and tuning standards.
"Her voice was quite low in pitch, but it possessed a strange, penetrating power that commanded the entire room." A classic literary description of vocal performance.

Memory hook

Think of pitching a tent. You drive the stakes into the ground to 'fix' them in place. Similarly, a singer must 'fix' their voice on the correct note to hit the perfect pitch. Pitch fixes the note in its proper place.

When not to use

Do not confuse pitch with volume (loudness) or timbre (tone quality). A singer can sing the same pitch loudly or softly, and with a bright or dark tone.

Fun facts

Only about 1 in 10,000 people possess 'absolute pitch' (the ability to identify or recreate a musical note without a reference tone).
Mozart is famously documented to have had absolute pitch from a very early age, identifying the pitch of even household items like clocks and water glasses.