DOMINANT

Dominant

In music, the dominant is the fifth scale degree of the diatonic scale, called "dominant" because it is next in importance to the tonic,

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dominant

Noun

  1. The fifth major tone of a musical scale (five major steps above the note in question); thus G is the dominant of C, A of D, and so on.
  2. The triad built on the dominant tone.
  3. The dominating partner in sadomasochistic sexual activity.

Adjective

  1. Ruling; governing; prevailing; controlling; as, the dominant party, church, spirit, power.
    The dominant party controlled the government.
  2. Predominant, common, prevalent, of greatest importance.
    The dominant plants of the Carboniferous were lycopods and early conifers.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: dominant
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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