Definition

Adverb 1. In a manner relating to color: Pertaining to the qualities, perception, or use of color. 2. In a manner relating to a chromatic scale in music: Pertaining to a musical scale that consists of twelve semitones, or to notes that are outside the diatonic scale of a key.

Usage and Examples

• The artist arranged the paints chromatically, from the coolest blues to the warmest reds.
• The passage was played chromatically, featuring every semitone within the octave.
• A chromatically pure hue has no mixture of white, black, or gray.

Advanced Usage

• Chromatically opposite colors: Refers to colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g., red and green).
• To modulate chromatically: In music, to change key by using chords or notes from the chromatic scale.

Variants and Related Words

• Chromatic (adjective): Of or relating to color or a chromatic musical scale.
  • The painting uses a bold chromatic palette.
  • The piece includes several chromatic notes.
• Chromaticism (noun): The use of notes foreign to the diatonic scale in a composition; or the use of many colors.
• Achromatic (adjective): Free from color; involving black, white, and grays.

Synonyms

• In terms of color: hue-specifically, coloristically.
• In terms of music: by semitones, diatonically (antonym).

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Chromatic aberration: An optical effect where a lens fails to focus all colors to the same point, causing colored fringes.
• Chromatic scale: A musical scale consisting of twelve consecutive semitones.

Adverb

1. with respect to color
   • chromatically pure