Phrase guide

middle C

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The musical note note C4, with a pitch of approximately 261.6 hertz in concert pitch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The key on a piano or other keyboard instrument corresponding to this note.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the note designated by the first ledger line below the treble staff; 261.63 hertz

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: note, musical note, tone

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 中央C (zhōngyāng-sēi) — musical note, 261.626 Hz
  • Finnish: keski-C — musical note, 261.626 Hz
  • Finnish: yksiviivainen C — musical note, 261.626 Hz
  • French: do central — musical note, 261.626 Hz
  • Polish: środkowe C — musical note, 261.626 Hz
  • Portuguese: dó central — musical note, 261.626 Hz
  • Spanish: do central — musical note, 261.626 Hz
  • Swedish: ettstrukna C — musical note, 261.626 Hz