/
ˈgamət/
n.
- the complete range or scope of something:
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the whole gamut of human emotion.
- Music a complete scale of musical notes; the range of a voice or instrument.
- historical a scale consisting of seven overlapping hexachords, containing all the recognized notes used in medieval music, covering almost three octaves from bass G to treble E.
▸the lowest note in this scale.
Phrase
- run the gamut
experience or display the complete range of something.
Etymology
ME: from med. L. gamma ut (in sense 3): the Greek letter Γ (gamma) was used for bass G, with ut indicating that it was the first note in the lowest of the hexachords.
