consonance

/ˈkɒnsənəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːnsənəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkän(t)-s(ə-)nən(t)s/ (ame, mw)

consonance — noun

1. a pleasing sound effect made when notes or tones fit smoothly together instead o

1.名詞C2
釋義

a pleasing sound effect made when notes or tones fit smoothly together instead of clashing.

例句

The choir reached a warm consonance when Xiu and Tuan held the final chord.

pattern: reach consonance on a chord

A small consonance between the cello and flute settled the whole room.

consonance between + instruments

同義詞
  • harmony

    Broader musical term that can describe the whole texture, not just one pleasing sound relationship.

  • euphony

    Stresses sweetness or beauty of sound in general, especially in language.

反義詞
  • dissonance

    The technical opposite, where notes rub against each other instead of blending.

  • discord

    A harsher clash of notes or sounds; often stronger and less neutral.

文法句型

consonance between + instruments/voices

find consonance in + passage/chord

a consonance of notes

用法筆記

Mostly used in music, sound design, or careful description of how notes fit together. Distinguish from sense 2, which moves away from sound and describes general agreement or suitability.

常見錯誤

❌The drum solo created consonance with no notes at all.
✅The drum solo created a strong rhythm, not consonance.
💡In music, 'consonance' usually refers to notes or tones sounding pleasant together.

2. a state in which people, ideas, colours, or separate parts suit one another and

2.名詞C2
釋義

a state in which people, ideas, colours, or separate parts suit one another and feel peacefully in balance.

例句

Élise admired the consonance between the old brick wall and the glass roof.

consonance between + two design elements

Months of patient talks restored consonance among the fishing families.

consonance among + groups

同義詞
  • harmony

    Warmer and more common, especially for relationships or visual balance.

  • accord

    More often used for people, groups, or formal agreement.

  • congruity

    Very formal and slightly drier; often about parts matching a whole.

反義詞
  • discord

    Shows disagreement or lack of peaceful fit.

  • conflict

    Stronger opposite, especially when the mismatch becomes open tension.

  • mismatch

    Focuses on things not suiting each other rather than on human agreement.

文法句型

consonance between + two things

consonance among + people/groups

in consonance with + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often appears with between, among, or in consonance with when comparing people, colours, buildings, or ideas. Distinguish from sense 1, which stays in music and sound.

常見錯誤

❌There was consonance of the board over the new budget.
✅There was consonance among the board members over the new budget.
💡With people, this sense normally uses 'among' or 'between' to show who is in agreement.

3. the repeated use of similar consonant sounds in nearby words, often near the end

3.名詞C2
釋義

the repeated use of similar consonant sounds in nearby words, often near the ends of the words.

例句

Rachid underlined the consonance in blank and think during class.

consonance in + word pair

The poem's soft consonance made Bilal slow down at each line ending.

poetic effect: soft consonance

同義詞
  • sound repetition

    A broader label that can include more than consonants.

  • half-rhyme

    A narrower poetic effect that may rely on consonance without full rhyme.

文法句型

consonance in + poem/line

use consonance with repeated + sound

notice consonance near + word endings

用法筆記

Used in poetry or language study. Unlike alliteration, this pattern does not have to begin at the first sound of each word, and it often appears near word endings.

常見錯誤

❌The poem uses consonance because many words start with s.
✅The poem uses alliteration because many words start with s.
💡Consonance is repeated consonant sound, often inside or near the ends of words, not simply the first sound.