Sem"i*tone (?), n. [Pref. semi- + tone. CF. Hemitone.] (Mus.) Half a tone; -- the name commonly applied to the smaller intervals of the diatonic scale.

&fist; There is an impropriety in the use of this word, and half step is now preferred. See Tone. J. S. Dwight.

Sem"i*tone (?), n. [Pref. semi- + tone. CF. Hemitone.] (Mus.) Half a tone; -- the name commonly applied to the smaller intervals of the diatonic scale.

&fist; There is an impropriety in the use of this word, and half step is now preferred. See Tone. J. S. Dwight.

• (music) The interval between adjacent keys on a keyboard instrument; a half tone in the standard diatonic scale