gamut
/ˈɡæm.ət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡæm.ət/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈga-mət/ (ame, mw)
gamut — noun
1. a wide and complete set of different things, people, or possibilities that are c
a wide and complete set of different things, people, or possibilities that are connected in some way and can be listed or described together
The market offers a wide gamut of fresh herbs, from basil to lemongrass.
wide gamut of + plural noun: a large variety of
Her paintings cover a broad gamut of styles, from abstract to realistic portraits.
The festival attracted a surprising gamut of performers, including dancers, singers, and street artists.
Parents today face a wide gamut of choices when selecting a school for their children.
- limited selection
a small or restricted set with little variety
文法句型
a/the gamut of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Usually used with 'a' or 'the' and followed by 'of' to introduce the category of items being described. Frequently paired with the adjective 'whole' or 'wide' to emphasise breadth.
常見錯誤
2. the complete set of colours that a device such as a television, computer monitor
the complete set of colours that a device such as a television, computer monitor, printer, or camera can produce, show, or record
Hana's new monitor has a much wider colour gamut than her old laptop screen.
colour gamut: the full colour range of a display device
Professional printers can reproduce a broader gamut of colours than home inkjet models.
This cinema projector covers a rich colour gamut, making sunsets look incredibly realistic.
The designer adjusted the settings so the image uses the full colour gamut of the display.
- colour space
a more technical term used in colour science and image editing
文法句型
colour gamut
wide/narrow colour gamut
用法筆記
A technical term used mainly in digital imaging, photography, printing, and display technology. 'Wide colour gamut' is a common marketing term for high-quality screens.
常見錯誤
3. the complete series of experiences, emotions, reactions, or possibilities that s
the complete series of experiences, emotions, reactions, or possibilities that someone goes through or covers, especially when these range from one extreme to the opposite extreme
The novel takes the reader through the whole gamut of feelings, from joy to despair.
the whole gamut of: the complete range from one extreme to another
Fatima's face expressed the full gamut of surprise — wide eyes, open mouth, then a laugh.
The charity's work covers the gamut of community needs, from food and shelter to job training.
During the ceremony, Mateo felt the entire gamut of emotions — pride, relief, and excitement.
- whole range
less dramatic than 'gamut'; suitable for everyday speech about any category
- full spectrum
emphasises the continuous transition between extremes, like light through a prism
文法句型
the (whole) gamut of + abstract noun
run the gamut of/from
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (RANGE), which lists concrete categories of things, this sense describes a continuous scale between two opposing extremes (e.g. joy vs despair) and typically applies to emotions, experiences, or abstract qualities. The fixed phrase 'run the gamut' belongs to this sense.
常見錯誤
4. the full series of musical notes that a particular voice, musical instrument, or
the full series of musical notes that a particular voice, musical instrument, or piece of music can produce, from the lowest pitch to the highest
The soprano covered an astonishing gamut of notes during the opera.
gamut of notes: the pitch range of a voice or instrument
A piano has the widest gamut of any common instrument, from very low to very high sounds.
Omar practised scales every morning to stretch his vocal gamut higher and higher.
The old church organ produces a beautiful gamut of sounds across all its registers.
文法句型
vocal/instrumental gamut
gamut of notes
用法筆記
The original meaning of 'gamut' from which all other senses derive. In modern music contexts, 'range' or 'compass' are more common technical terms; 'gamut' sounds slightly old-fashioned or literary.